China busmaker compensates Neoplan for copying

Shanghai, January 21 (Gasgoo.com) Chinese bus-maker Zhongwei Bus & Coach Group has failed in a patent infringement lawsuit and is asked to pay more than 20 million yuan ($2.93 million) as compensation for Neoplan Bus GmbH, a subsidiary of Man Group, a Beijing-based newspaper reported Wednesday.

Zhongwei Bus, together with China bus maker Zhongda Auto Industrial Group, its parent compay and Zhongtong Bus Holding Co., its sales agent, were accused of copying the entire design of Neoplan’s Starliner bus and were asked to pay 40 million yuan for the financial losses it caused to Neoplan.

The Beijing First Intermediate People's Court has ruled that Zhongwei's A9 bus has too much in common with Neoplan's Starliner for the resemblance to be accidental. Zhongwei is required by the court to pay 21.16 million yuan in damages to Neoplan Bus and stop future production of A6 buses.

Zonda's bus has been on sale for more than three years, and some have been exported to Southeast Asian countries and to Eastern Europe, according to Zonda's website. The A9 is sold at about a third of the Starliner's price.