Peri
Fiat Panda
The Italian auto giant Fiat is considering legal action against the Hebei-based company, alleging the Peri, which debuted in the Beijing Auto Show in November, resembles the Fiat Panda. The Peri, or Jing Ling as it is known in Chinese, means elf or spirit, and the car will soon use a 1.0-liter engine to complement the show car’s 1.3-liter VVT. It is aimed at 20-40 year olds and the company describes the design as “uniquely rich, with a bright and cheerful character.” A full, European-style package of safety equipment (anti-lock brakes and airbags) is fitted, making it one of the most safety-conscious small cars in China.
According to China press, Xinhua, it was reported that Chinese automaker Great Wall Motor Co. Ltd. has denied its new subcompact car the Peri is copied from FIAT designs, adding that it doesn’t fear a lawsuit, the Oriental Morning Post reported on Friday.
The head of Great Wall Motor’s publicity department, Shang Yugui, claimed that they never copy car designs from other automakers and the Peri design took their own design team 2 years to develop. Shang also said that his company has its own moulds and technical patents for its products.
The report cited an anonymous analyst saying Fiat is worried because Great Wall Motor is expected to launch the Peri in European markets soon after the Peri is launched in China in the first half of 2007.
Great Wall Motor is not the first Chinese automaker to be involved in a copyright dispute with foreign companies. In 2003, General Motors Corp. sued the Anhui-based Chery Automobile Co. Ltd. over its subcompact QQ which is strikingly similar to GM’s Spark. The two companies settled out of court.
Toyota Motor Corp. also accused the Zhejiang-based Geely Group for copying the Japanese company’s logo. Toyota lost its suit against Geely.
Honda Motor Co. complained at last month’s auto show that Shenyang Polarsun Automobile Co. Ltd. showcased a sport-utility vehicle with the front bumper resembling that of the Honda CR-V. Honda has yet taken legal action.
The privately-owned Great Wall Motor Co., Ltd., originally a SUV and pick-up producer, unveiled three new models in November; the Peri, Florid and Coolbear – in the hope of grabbing a slice of the compact car market.
The company is one of the few Chinese automakers that develops and produces its own models rather than manufacturing foreign brands under license.