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Mahindra Seeks to Block Jeep Lookalike Case in U.S.
Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has asked a U.S. federal court in Michigan to block a complaint by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV that its Roxor two-seat SUV is a copy of FCA’s Jeep CJ-series SUV.
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Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. has asked a U.S. federal court in Michigan to block a complaint by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV that its Roxor two-seat SUV is a copy of FCA’s Jeep CJ-series SUV.
FCA filed a petition with the U.S. International Trade Commission on Aug. 1, asserting that the Roxor (pictured) is a “near identical copy” of its iconic Jeep design. FCA seeks to bar the Mahindra model from the U.S. market. Mahindra seeks a court injunction to prevent FCA’s claim to the ITC.
Mahindra is developing a $600 million plant outside Detroit, where it will assemble the Roxor from kits supplied from India. The vehicle is intended to compete in the market for off-road-only “side x side” all-terrain vehicles.
Mahindra contends that FCA agreed in 2009 to allow the Roxor to be built and marketed, providing the vehicle uses a grille design different from the Jeep’s traditional seven-slot vertical grille. Mahindra says the Roxor uses an FCA-approved fanned five-slot grille and is asking the Michigan court to enforce that agreement.
Details of the 2009 agreement cited by Mahindra—notably whether it applies to vehicles sold in the U.S.—aren’t clear.
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