Jaguar Land Rover alleges that BYD reverse-engineered its Defender SUV, with a preliminary court ruling expected on November 11.
Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) has taken Chinese automaker BYD to court over alleged technology copying. JLR claims that BYD dismantled a Land Rover Defender to study its technology and use it in the BYD Ti7 SUV.
The case is currently before a court in The Hague, Netherlands. A preliminary ruling is expected on November 11 to decide whether BYD has a case to answer over the alleged intellectual property infringement.
JLR vs BYD: What Is the Case About?
JLR alleges that BYD reverse-engineered the Defender and used its technological elements in the Ti7. The vehicle is a seven-seat plug-in hybrid SUV developed for international markets.
In August, court-ordered bailiffs raided BYD offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp in the Netherlands. They seized digital records after JLR sought to secure evidence that could potentially be destroyed.
BYD’s Response to JLR’s Allegations
BYD’s legal team described the action as a “fishing expedition”. It argued that an excessive number of digital files had been taken during the process.
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JLR’s legal advisers, meanwhile, accused BYD of obstructing the process. Neither company has made a public comment on the ongoing proceedings.
BYD Ti7: Why Is It Compared to the Defender?
The BYD Ti7 entered the Chinese market in September 2025 under the Fang Cheng Bao brand. It was initially called Bao 7 and later marketed as Tai 7.
Its boxy body, upright front design and squared wheel arches have drawn comparisons with the Land Rover Defender. The SUV also features a rear-mounted storage compartment.
The Chinese version measures 4,999 mm in length, 1,995 mm in width and 1,865 mm in height. It has a 2,920 mm wheelbase and five seats. The European export version gets seven seats, while the UK model measures 5,146 mm long, including its rear-mounted spare wheel.
BYD Ti7 UK Launch: What Is at Stake?
The Ti7 is scheduled to go on sale in the UK in January. Its price is expected to be lower than the seven-seat Land Rover Defender 110. JLR’s legal complaint focuses on the alleged copying of technology through reverse-engineering. The dispute is not limited to similarities between the two SUVs’ exterior designs.
JLR’s Earlier Legal Battle With a Chinese Automaker
This is not JLR’s first legal dispute over vehicle design copying. In 2019, the company won a case against Jiangling Motor Corporation over the alleged copying of the Range Rover Evoque.
The latest dispute puts BYD’s international expansion under legal scrutiny. The preliminary ruling expected on November 11 will clarify whether the case moves forward.
