Jaguar Land Rover faces a potential €500,000 penalty if it fails to destroy documents seized from BYD’s Dutch offices, while the dispute over the Ti 7’s design remains unresolved.
A Dutch court has ordered Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) to destroy confidential documents seized from BYD’s offices following allegations that the Chinese automaker copied the exterior design of the Land Rover Defender for its BYD Ti 7 SUV.
The preliminary ruling, issued on November 11 by the District Court of The Hague, requires JLR to instruct the court-appointed custodian or bailiff to destroy the seized files within 24 hours of receiving the formal order. If the company fails to provide these instructions within the deadline, it could face a penalty of €50,000 per hour, with the total amount capped at €500,000 (approximately $553,850).
The dispute began after JLR secured an evidence seizure in August, allowing confidential records to be collected from BYD offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp, the Netherlands. The British automaker suspected that the BYD Ti 7, marketed in China as the Fang Cheng Bao Tai 7, had imitated the Defender’s distinctive styling.
JLR also raised concerns that BYD may have used reverse-engineering techniques to develop the SUV. However, BYD challenged the seizure, arguing that the collected material included sensitive research, development, financial and technical information unrelated to the design allegations.
The court subsequently concluded that JLR did not require these documents to establish its intellectual property claims or calculate potential damages. It also noted that the BYD Ti 7 had not yet entered the European Union market.
Under the ruling, JLR must provide independent confirmation that all seized materials have been destroyed. Neither the automaker nor the appointed custodian or any other external party can retain access to the documents.
The judge also rejected JLR’s demand for €500,000 in penalties against BYD, finding provisionally that the Chinese company had complied with the original seizure order. BYD has been directed to pay €25,400 in legal costs.
Importantly, the decision does not settle the underlying intellectual property dispute. JLR has initiated separate legal proceedings in The Hague and Rotterdam concerning European design rights, copyright and alleged imitation.
Meanwhile, BYD is preparing to introduce the Ti 7 in the UK, where its seven-seat Excellence AWD variant is priced at £47,995. Showroom arrivals are expected in November 2026, followed by customer deliveries in January 2027.