Audi brought electric car manufacturer from China, Nio to court. The problem is that the names Nio uses on the ES6 and ES8 are too similar to those of the Audi S6 and S8 models.
quoted automobile weekThursday (26/1/2023) Audi initially sued NIO in 2021 over the protection of the S6 and S8 model names in the European Patent Office.
After 15 months of fighting, a German court in Munich has ruled that the two electric NIO SUVs, the ES6 and ES8, sound too similar to Audi’s S6 and S8 models.
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Nio ES6 Photo: Nio
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Although the judge noted that the name Nio is actually different from Audi. The letter “E” used on the electrified model Nio ES can create ‘chaos’ and has the potential to be called an electric version of the Audi model.
 Audi S6 Photo: Audi |
“There is a risk that consumers will assume that the ‘ES 6’ is the ‘S 6’ in the electric version, that the two vehicles are from the same manufacturer.” said the Judge quoted from Electrec, Thursday (26/1/2023).
The decision is not final, and NIO can appeal the decision. Currently, Nio is prohibited from advertising the ES6 and ES8 in Germany and faces a fine of 250,000 euros (around Rp. 4 billion) or six months in prison for the managing director of Nio Germany.
Currently, the Nio, the two cars being tried, are not yet available in Germany. Nio launched its first EV, the “ES7” model, in the region, then renamed it the EL7 in October.
Audi welcomed the court’s decision, saying its brand is very important and must protect it comprehensively. Meanwhile, NIO is studying its next steps, including a possible appeal
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