General Motors is considering legal action against a Chinese partner of Ford, its main US rival, after Jiangling Motors began exports to Europe of a vehicle GM says is a copy of one of its off-roaders.
GM claims Jiangling's Land Wind has the body of the Frontera, a car made until two years ago in Luton, near London. It has handed the case to its legal department to consider whether to start a suit.
"The company is evaluating similarity in design to the former Frontera," GM said in a statement. "As a result GM is considering the options available to it, but will not comment on litigation plans."
Jiangling denies copying anything from GM. Xu Binzhang, a spokesman, said the company had its own research department and had gained some technology from Ford. "I don't think we copied anything from Opel's Frontera," he said. "We deployed some international technology platforms we got through acquisition."
GM's decision will be complicated by the partial ownership of Jiangling Motors Corporation, Jiangling's listed arm, by Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation, GM's Chinese partner. JMC provides parts and services for the Land Wind but the vehicle itself is assembled by a sister company wholly owned by Jiangling.
In a further twist, JMC also has a joint venture making trucks with Isuzu, a GM partner in Japan and original source of the Frontera design. GM believes Isuzu shares its concern over the Land Wind.
GM was not deterred from high-profile legal action against China's Chery by the fact that SAIC had a large stake. GM accuses Chery of copying the Matiz made by GM Daewoo, its Korean subsidiary, and has taken action in several countries. It's also trying to stop Chery registering its name as a trademark for planned exports to the US, claiming it is too similar to Chevy.