Jaguar Land Rover secures seizure of BYD records over alleged Defender copying
Digital records were seized from BYD’s offices in two Dutch cities amid a Defender intellectual property dispute. Both automakers await a preliminary ruling in The Hague.
Jaguar Land Rover obtained a court order to seize digital records from Chinese carmaker BYD’s offices in the Netherlands amid an intellectual property dispute involving the Land Rover Defender.
The action took place during the summer at BYD’s offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp. According to media reports, Jaguar Land Rover, also known as JLR, suspects that BYD dismantled a Defender SUV to examine its technology.
BYD’s lawyers criticised the seizure. Both automakers are awaiting a preliminary court ruling in The Hague over the dispute.
BYD’s Ti7 is also planned for a UK launch in January, with prices starting at £47,995.
Media reports dated 9 November 2026 described bailiffs seizing digital records from BYD ahead of a court case concerning alleged breaches of intellectual property relating to the Land Rover Defender.
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