Shanghai. October 23 (Gasgoo.com) -Toyota Motor says it will strengthen its efforts to get design patents for its models in worldwide markets following China's Jonway Automobile's duplicated car goes on sale, Automotive News reported last weekend.
The report said that China Automobile Deutschland started selling the UFO, which much resembles the second-generation RAV4, in Germany last month. The starting price is 15,990 euros (169,089 yuan), while Toyota RAV4 is sold at 26,600 euros (281,286 yuan) and up in Germany.
"We are strengthening our efforts to obtain patents and register designs for all our models in markets around the world," Toyota spokesman Paul Nolasco said.
A senior auto analyst said the reasons why Toyota did not take legal action against UFO sales is that it is hard to win lawsuits over a car's design patent as long as there is even a slight change made to the alleged model's lights, windows or any part of the car, citing the report.
Moreover, such kinds of lawsuit will only help the accused brand increase sales more rapidly, said the analyst.
Separately, European vehicle importer Martin Motors has declared to sell the China-built Shuanghuan Noble in Europe next year despite a legal challenge from Daimler AG, which claims the model is a copy of its Smart ForTwo.
Toyota RAV4 and Jonway UFO
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