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New Delhi: A Dutch court has ordered British luxury automaker Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to destroy all files seized from the Netherlands offices of Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD, marking a major turn in the ongoing design dispute between the two companies. The District Court of The Hague ruled that JLR must initiate the destruction of the seized documents within 24 hours of formally receiving the order. Failure to comply could result in a fine of 50,000 euros, approximately 55,385 dollars, per hour against JLR, with the maximum penalty capped at 500,000 euros, or about 554,000 dollars.
Judge H.F.R. van Heemstra issued the ruling on November 11, 2026, during preliminary proceedings. The decision overturns an August order that had allowed internal documents to be seized from BYD’s offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp. Those records had been held by an independent, court-appointed custodian and were never handed over directly to JLR.
Dispute Over Land Rover Defender Design
The legal battle began after JLR alleged that the exterior design of BYD’s Ti 7 SUV, sold in China as the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7, closely resembles its popular Land Rover Defender. Alongside design infringement claims, JLR suspected that BYD may have reverse-engineered the Defender to understand its structure and technology.
Based on these allegations, JLR secured an ex-parte court order in August to seize evidence without BYD being given an opportunity to present its side or challenge the action at the time. The seized materials included launch plans for the Ti 7, technical and financial data, and records linked to the Land Rover Defender. BYD later challenged the scope of the seizure, arguing that it swept up confidential research and development files unrelated to JLR’s design claims.
Court Rules Seized Files Unnecessary for JLR
In its preliminary assessment, the court found that JLR does not need the seized files to substantiate its design infringement claims. The records were also deemed unnecessary for calculating potential damages because BYD has not yet begun selling the Ti 7 in the European Union. Consequently, the judge lifted the seizure order and directed that all files be destroyed.
The court also rejected JLR’s request to impose a 500,000-euro fine on BYD, noting that the Chinese automaker had preliminarily complied with the original seizure order. JLR must provide independent confirmation of the destruction to BYD within 24 hours, ensuring that neither JLR, the custodian, nor any external party retains access to the records. Additionally, the court barred JLR from taking further action based on the original seizure authorization, warning of a separate 500,000-euro penalty for violations. BYD was awarded 25,400 euros, roughly 28,110 dollars, in legal costs, with the order remaining immediately enforceable even if appealed.
Separate Design Lawsuits and UK Launch Plans
The ruling does not dismiss the underlying design theft allegations against BYD’s Ti 7, which remain the subject of separate legal actions. JLR is pursuing a claim in The Hague over European Union design rights infringement, alongside a copyright and alleged copying case in Rotterdam. Under EU rules, unregistered designs receive protection for three years after initial public disclosure, while registered designs can be protected for up to 25 years through five-year renewals. While JLR previously faced legal hurdles trademarking the exterior shapes of the Range Rover Evoque and older Defender, it won an intellectual property case against China’s Jiangling Motor Corporation over the Landwind X7 in 2019.
Amid the litigation, BYD is preparing to launch the Ti 7 in the United Kingdom. Its seven-seat Excellence AWD variant will be priced at 47,995 pounds, with showroom availability planned for November 2026 and customer deliveries expected from January 2027. Powered by a 1.5-litre turbo petrol engine and dual electric motors producing 300 kW or 402 horsepower, the SUV features a 35.6 kWh LFP Blade battery offering a claimed WLTP electric range of 119 kilometres and acceleration from zero to 100 kilometres per hour in 4.8 seconds.
