Audi wins authorized battle in opposition to Nio, court docket bans Chinese language Automaker from promoting its ES6, ES8 fashions in Germany.
A court docket in Munich stated that the ES6 and ES8 names on the all-electric SUVs had been too much like Audi’s S6 and S8 fashions.
Whereas Nio’s ES6 and ES8 are each luxurious electrical SUVs, the S6 and S8 are performance-oriented ICE sedans.
However Nio will be capable of promote its ES7 in Audi’s residence nation Germany, after renaming it to EL7 within the area in October.
Volkswagen-owned Audi AG has gained a case in opposition to China’s all-electric automotive firm, Nio, over its choice to call two of its fashions ES6 and ES8, which infringes Audi’s trademark rights, in response to a ruling by a court docket in Munich.
Audi had in June final yr filed a lawsuit in a Munich court docket in opposition to Nio over the identify of its fashions ES6 and ES8, which the German model consider sounds much like its mannequin designations S6 and S8.
Similar to Audi, the Munich court docket believes that the ES6 and ES8 names had been too much like Audi’s S6 and S8 fashions, subsequently banning Nio from promoting its ES6 and ES8 electrical SUVs in Germany.
As well as, the Chinese language all-electric automotive maker additionally faces a high quality of €250,000 ($269,650 at present alternate charges) or as much as six months in jail for its managing director in Germany.
Whereas Nio’s ES6 and ES8 are each luxurious electrical sports activities utility automobiles (SUVs), the S6 and S8 are performance-oriented Inside Combustion Engines (ICE) sedans.
However Nio will be capable of promote its electrical SUV ES7 in Audi’s residence nation Germany, after renaming it to EL7 within the area in October, to accommodate Audi.
“We’re cautious to guard [our intellectual property] comprehensively,” Audi stated, in a press release.
“The judgment confirms that the disputed mannequin designations infringe Audi trademark rights. A lot of our fashions have an iconic character—for us and for our prospects. This additionally and particularly applies to our sporty S fashions.”