Frankfurt 2007: BMW vs Shuanghuan

Chinese automaker Shuanghuan displayed two models at the Frankfurt Auto Show. The SUV, codenamed CEO, has stired up a friction with BMW and Mercedes-Benz.

The CEO is almost an identical copy of BMW's X5 model, and the only reason why it's "almost identical" is that the SUV's front end it's a "clone" of the SUVs found in the Mercedes-Benz's line.

The press called Shuanghuan's "blatantly and unashamedly" copied the designs of other automaker and they have been almost kicked out of the show.

BMW has already filled suit against the chinese manufacturer.

“We did not like it,” BMW chief executive, Norbert Reithofer, said curtly in an interview here.

An official response from the Shuanghuan's executives has come shortly:

“Naturally, our cars are inspired by European carmakers,” said Karl Schlössl, a German who is the chief executive of China Automobile. “But we reject the charge that they are copies.”

Even though their facing major legal problems, the chinese automaker has decided to bring the car to the Frankfurt Show and allow the people to judge for themselves. What do you think? Can BMW win this?

2 Responses to “Frankfurt 2007: BMW vs Shuanghuan”

Tony Sticks says:

September 14, 2007 at 12:17 pm

BMW will lose the suit only If you looked at the car from the front. Bold chinese!

Andrew Lloyd says:

July 21, 2009 at 3:04 pm

even before i read the article i said it’s a replica from bmw’s x5, but then again what car made by a chinese manufacturer isn’t a copy from the european market, they’re offering “european” looks at chinese prices, ofc w/ cutbacks also on technology and safety.