BYD corporate news just got a lot more dramatic. Bailiffs acting for Jaguar Land Rover raided BYD‘s offices in the Netherlands, days before a court showdown in The Hague. At the center sits the BYD Ti7, a big, boxy SUV that looks uncomfortably close to the reborn Defender.
BYD corporate news goes to court
The raid reportedly happened back in August, when JLR’s legal team hoped to find documents proving BYD reverse engineered a Defender. Those files could have vanished at any moment, so timing mattered. Meanwhile, BYD keeps pushing hard into premium territory, recently showing off a 1180 hp Yangwang U8 that can float.
Ti7 looks awfully familiar up close
Place your fingers over the lights and grille, and the resemblance grows hard to ignore. Still, the Ti7 is not a straight copy. On paper, its upright glasshouse and body-colored panel behind the C-pillar echo the Defender closely enough to invite a lawsuit.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | 1.5L inline-4 plus four electric motors (Super Hybrid) |
| 🐎Power Output | 402 HP (408 PS) |
| ⚡Peak Torque | 650 Nm (479 lb-ft) (est.) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-62 mph in 4.8s |
| 🚀Top Speed | 112 mph (180 km/h) (est.) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | Hybrid AWD (est.) |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | £47,995 ($64,300) |
Pricing that makes JLR nervous
The numbers explain JLR’s anger. The Ti7 starts at £47,995 ($64,300) in the UK, while a base Defender 110 costs more than £16,000 extra. Its Super Hybrid setup pairs a 1.5-liter inline-4 with four electric motors, producing 402 hp (408 PS) and reaching 62 mph in 4.8 seconds.
A pattern of borrowed design
This is not JLR’s first fight over copied design. In 2016, the company won its case against JMC’s Landwind X7, which was forced off production after copying five Evoque details. Even so, JLR has not yet sued Chery over the Jaecoo 7, despite its nickname as the “Temu Range Rover.”
Meanwhile, GWM’s chairman publicly apologized after a Wey V9X advert copied a Range Rover Sport ad. BYD has offered nothing similar. This BYD corporate news story is bigger than one SUV, because the Hague court may decide where inspiration ends and infringement begins.
For buyers, the Ti7 offers a compelling package. For JLR, every sale threatens the premium position of its Defender. Stay tuned to Auto News Magazine for the verdict.
Callum Brookes
Field & Terrain Dynamics Editor at Range Rover Fans. Veteran off-road expedition leader evaluating Defender overland builds, air suspension telemetry, and extreme cross-continent terrain testing.
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