The legal battle between Jaguar Land Rover and BYD regarding their Land Rover Defender has taken a new twist as the District Court in The Hague ruled that JLR’s application to seize evidence was overturned.
While the court has made no judgement regarding whether BYD has infringed any Intellectual Property rights, the case is based around JLR suspicions that BYD probed the Defender and used protected design and tech throughout the development of the Ti7 plug-in hybrid SUV.
What happened?
BYD were visited by court appointed bailiffs at their offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp in August 2026. They were instructed by a judicial order requested by Jaguar Land Rover to seize digital evidence relating to the development of the Ti7. JLR wanted to ensure that the documents were not deleted.
They suspect that BYD would have taken apart one of the Defenders and studied them. While there are no reports of what design or tech was suspected to be copied, it seems that JLR is concerned that BYD may have used some protected design or tech from the Defender to create their own SUV.
Latest court ruling
BYD contested the seizure of evidence and called the search ‘a fishing expedition’. BYD’s lawyers said that too much evidence was gathered. Meanwhile JLR had questions over BYD’s level of co-operation.
However, the District Court in The Hague has ruled that Jaguar Land Rover must cease the seizure of evidence and arrange for the destruction of data. The court has also ordered that enforcement of the seizure must stop.
It should be noted that this ruling doesn’t address the actual infringement of design and tech, only the evidence gathering.
BYD Ti7
BYD launched their Fangchengbao Tai 7 to Chinese customers in September 2025. The SUV has 5 seats for the Chinese market, however the Ti7 available in the UK has 3 rows to seat 7 people. The export version measures 5146mm long, 1995mm wide and 1865mm high.
The upright front, square wheel arches and near vertical tailgate has caused comparisons to the Land Rover Defender and it is likely that this is why JLR are interested in the SUV. However, this is not enough to prove unlawful copying.
Powertrain
The UK version of the Ti7 uses BYD’s DM-p plug-in hybrid system. This includes a 1.5 litre turbo petrol engine working alongside two electric motors to provide just over 400hp. The SUV also comes with all-wheel drive and a 35.6kWh Blade Battery.
BYD claim that it can run solely on electric for up to 119km (WLTP). It can reach 0-100km/h in just 4.8 seconds. This means that it is a high performance plug-in hybrid SUV.
The powertrain is very different to what is available on the Land Rover Defender at the moment. This may play a role in the case, as JLR seem to be concerned about design and tech.
Price
The Ti7 starts from £47,995 in the UK. This puts it well below the price of the Land Rover Defender 110 which starts from £68,465 for the seven seater. This could mean that it is seen as a good alternative to the Defender for those wanting a large 7 seater plug-in hybrid.
BYD have scheduled the Ti7 to arrive in showrooms this month with deliveries expected in January 2027. The case has garnered some attention ahead of the UK release but there is no ruling to stop the sale of the Ti7.
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What needs to be proven
JLR would need to prove that BYD used protected design elements and tech to infringe on their rights. They would need to prove that there are more similarities than just general ones.
Design can be tricky as many SUVs have similar styling including upright fronts, square wheel arches and boxy shapes. The main thing to look out for will be whether the design details or tech used have gone beyond inspiration.
JLR have won a similar case in the past. In 2019 they won a case involving the Landwind X7, a Chinese SUV which was criticised for being too similar to the Range Rover Evoque. While this may give JLR confidence, it doesn’t guarantee the same result.
The Ti7 is a different vehicle as it is a plug-in hybrid SUV with a different powertrain, price and positioning. The court will need to analyse the evidence to see if JLR’s claims hold any weight.
Effect on BYD’s UK plans
While the ruling is a setback for JLR as they cannot seize evidence anymore, it doesn’t mean the case is over. BYD can still prepare for the Ti7 to go on sale in the UK. Meanwhile JLR may still go ahead with their wider claim.
It is an important time for BYD as the Ti7 is about to go on sale in showrooms. Any bad press or uncertainty surrounding the case could impact consumer confidence. However, there is no ruling to stop them from selling the vehicle.
Industry impact
This case shows how tensions are rising between traditional luxury brands and the rapidly expanding Chinese car makers. As Chinese brands begin to enter the European market with more advanced vehicles, traditional car makers are becoming more cautious about their design, tech and brand.
The outcome of the case could have wider implications. A clear outcome could impact how car makers plan their designs, tear down competitors and protect their Intellectual Property.
Next steps
There are likely to be more arguments from both sides, analysis of evidence and potentially a full hearing. The Ti7 will still go on sale in the UK and the Defender will continue as JLR’s flagship off-road focused SUV.
The case is still ongoing. The Dutch court have ruled on the evidence seizure but it remains to be seen if BYD copied protected design and tech from the Defender.
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