Dutch bailiffs raid BYD offices in Netherlands over alleged Defender design infringement
Bailiffs acting for Jaguar Land Rover seized records from BYD's Dutch facilities as part of a legal dispute over the Ti7 SUV's similarity to the Land Rover Defender.
Bailiffs in the Netherlands carried out raids on BYD's offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp in August 2026, seizing records on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR). The action precedes a legal challenge that began this week in The Hague, where JLR alleges that BYD's Ti7 SUV infringes the intellectual property of the Land Rover Defender, JLR's best-selling model worldwide.
Automotive analysts have noted visual similarities between the Ti7 and the Defender. Both JLR and BYD have declined to comment on the case, according to overseas reports.
The Ti7 received approval from Australian authorities recently, allowing it to be sold locally. Government filings indicate the model will be offered with two plug-in hybrid powertrains: a 200 kW two-wheel-drive version and a 300 kW all-wheel-drive version.
Other Chinese manufacturers also market SUVs with styling reminiscent of the Defender, including the Denza B5, GWM Haval H7, Geely Battleship 700, iCaur V25 and Jetour T2, with additional models slated for release in the coming year. In China, similar vehicles such as the BAIC Xingtan 5X and Hongqi G919 have appeared.
JLR's current lawsuit is the first against BYD for a Defender-inspired design, though the company previously won a 2019 case against Jiangling over the Landwind X7, which was deemed a copy of the Range Rover Evoque.