More Knock Offs from China

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

Take a close look at the image.

A court in Italy has just ruled that the crossover pictured above, the five-seat CEO built by Shuanghuan Automobile of Shijiazhuang, China, is not a clone of the BMW X5. Um... yeah. The legal battles began when Shuanghuan introduced their "Noble" last year, a near-clone of the Smart fortwo. Mercedes-Benz wasn't impressed, and threatened a lawsuit. Shortly thereafter, BMW started losing sleep over the Chinese CEO, an obvious facsimile of their previous-generation X5 (E53). The Bavarian automaker took Shuanghuan to court in Munich this past summer and won their case, and when Martin Motors (the distributor of Shuanghuan Automobiles in Italy and central Europe) started selling the CEO in early 2007, BMW again took legal action, this time in the Italian judicial system.

I guess they will be selling these knock offs next to the fake Louis Vitton and fake Rolex watches at the flea market. I see an up tick in stolen BMW badges.

masraum · 01-14-2009, 07:51 AM

Bah! No resemblance

Jim Richards · 01-14-2009, 07:57 AM

Clone...nah. The taillights and exhaust pipes are completely different.

Porsche-O-Phile · Porsche-O-Phile's Garage

SUVs in general all look the same anyway.

rammstein · 01-14-2009, 08:02 AM

HAHAH!!!! That is great.

Gogar · 01-14-2009, 08:37 AM

NO way that's a knock-off!! It clearly says "CEO" on the back.

kach22i · kach22i's Garage

http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/frankfurt-motor-show-bmw-vs-shuanghuan-automobile/

the Shuanghuan CEO, left, and the BMW X5. (Photo, right, by Carlos Osorio/Associated Press)

http://www.thetycho.com/galleries_shuanghuan.htm

http://www.theautochannel.com/news/2007/04/12/043572.html

911Rob · 911Rob's Garage

How does that saying go? The greatest compliment is to be copied?

legion · 01-14-2009, 12:38 PM

Heck, Lexus has been copying MB and BMW since day one.

ruf-porsche · ruf-porsche's Garage

When they come to the states I want to market a body kit that will make it look even more like a BMW. Maybe I can get the kit manufacture in CHINA.

strupgolf · 01-14-2009, 01:16 PM

So what. Just what we need is ANOTHER SUV in this land of so many SUV;s. They all look the same to me.

alf · 01-14-2009, 02:38 PM

I have seen these around here in Shanghai, but ironically I see more BMW X5s than these here. I would rekon that the build quality matches the price.

BReif61 · 01-14-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911Rob

How does that saying go? The greatest compliment is to be copied?

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

911Rob · 911Rob's Garage

thanks Brad

That's it man.

aigel · aigel's Garage

The nations new to modern car manufacturing always start out with copies. That way they learn what goes into the car. Next you know they bring out a decent original product.

Hyundai is a good example - people were joking about Korean cars at first and they have their share of clones - but look at them now in the US. I would consider a Hyundai if I were an appliance new car buyer. I bet you the Chinese will have a decent car on the market in the US in 5-10 years, leave alone the 2nd world countries.

George

George

Sapporo Guy · 01-15-2009, 07:36 AM

Anybody notice the similarities in Nissan's line of cars?
(errr, might just be a domestic observation ...)

BReif61 · 01-15-2009, 08:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sapporo Guy

Anybody notice the similarities in Nissan's line of cars?
(errr, might just be a domestic observation ...)

Similarity with what? They blend together with themselves sometimes, but I can't think of another company that they look like.

JeremyD · JeremyD's Garage

Amateurs create, professionals steal.