Mexican Media Brands
Hyundai, Kia Lose U.S. Lawsuit on Hybrid Patents
Hyundai Motor Co. and its Kia Motors Corp. affiliate have been ordered by a jury in the U.S. to pay at least $29 million for infringing on patents related to hybrid powertrains.
#hybrid #legal
Share
Hyundai Motor Co. and its Kia Motors Corp. affiliate have been ordered by a jury in the U.S. to pay at least $29 million for infringing on patents related to hybrid powertrains.
The lawsuit was filed in a federal district court in Baltimore, Md., by Baltimore-based Paice LLC over its patents covering systems that coordinate the operation of a hybrid's electric motor and piston engine. The complex complaint addressed the hybrid powertrain offered in the Hyundai Sonata and Kia Optima sedans.
Hyundai/Kia vows to appeal, saying Paice's claim was not supported by the evidence presented. The jury disagreed, ruling that the companies deliberately infringed on the Paice patents. Because of their decision, the trial judge could increase the damage award by as much as three times the amount set by the jury.
Bloomberg News notes that Paice previously has successfully sued Toyota Motor Corp. over the same issues. The company also is pursuing a patent infringement lawsuit against Ford Motor Co.
RELATED CONTENT
-
On Traffic Jams, Vehicle Size, Building EVs and more
From building electric vehicles—and training to do so—to considering traffic and its implication on drivers and vehicle size—there are plenty of considerations for people and their utilization of technology in the industry.
-
On Ford Maverick, Toyota Tundra Hybrid, and GM's Factory Footprint
GM is transforming its approach to the auto market—and its factories. Ford builds a small truck for the urban market. Toyota builds a full-size pickup and uses a hybrid instead of a diesel. And Faurecia thinks that hydrogen is where the industry is going.
-
Electric Trucks Emerging
Rudolph Diesel—who, incidentally, died mysteriously while traveling by a post office steamer on the English Channel in 1913—must be rolling in his grave.