Mercedes considers letting Chinese Smart ForTwo clone go on sale

Mercedes-Benz is considering ending a suit that claims a Chinese-made car, that is set to go on sale in Europe in mid-January, looks too much like its Smart ForTwo. According to Automotive News Europe, the Shuanghuan Bubble could go on sale later this month as lawyers from Mercedes-Benz and the Chinese car’s Italian importer Martin Motors come close to settling legal actions that have blocked the sale of the minicar.

The battle between Mercedes-Benz and Martin Motors began just before the launch of the IAA in Frankfurt in Sept. 2007. At the time Mercedes-Benz had obtained court orders banning the sale of the Bubble minicar in Germany claiming the car infringed its copyright for the Smart ForTwo. A month later, Martin...
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NItePhire - 1/5/2009 9:49:55 AM

+13 Boost

Ok I am going to do my best not to use to much Ethnocentrism in my statements but as a world economy overall isn't it time we did something about the way the Chines do business. They seem to show no initiative or imagination in anything that they do. With the lead paint in kids toys to industrial espionage aren't we tired yet?

NItePhire - 1/5/2009 11:13:10 AM

+4 Boost

Sorry meant to say "Chinese"

Kthorn - 1/5/2009 11:58:46 AM

-2 Boost

You forgot to add that they eat St. Bernards. There isn't a court in the land that will rule against the chinese, at least not one you could seat a jury for. It's an unfortunate fact of life they own a major stake in most countries now. To think any capatalist nation would turn to a country that eats dogs, imprisons its citizens for speach, and cheats at the Olympics for bail out money.

Right now China has a "do what ever you want" pass, and that's not likely to change any time soon. Buckle up boys, if you think you have seen the last of the clones you are sadly mistaken. I just hope for kthor's sake they don't copy his M3, he's already so butt hurt these days.

HSCenterconsole - 1/5/2009 11:07:58 AM

+9 Boost

The Chinese seem to have no shame when it comes to completely ripping off existing products made in the West.

marinaside1199 - 1/5/2009 12:40:27 PM

+5 Boost

I am a Chinese Canadian from Hong Kong and I never liked the way they do things in Mainland China. China thrived on manufacturing knock-off handbags, jewellery and other things for decades. Now they are getting away with cars? And yes, bribery and threats are of common Chinese government practice.

DennyCrane - 1/5/2009 2:20:44 PM

+5 Boost

I know a thing or two about these commie bastards, ripping everybosy off these days, and gettting away with it. If Mercedes walks away shame on them.

Lock n Load!

DennyCrane - 1/5/2009 7:54:05 PM

0 Boost

Mercedes will probably buy a fleet of them, have them re badged and dropped to US dealers as new smart cars, reducing their production costs by 40% and returning them to profitability.