The Volkswagen Group says claims the German firm infringed on Jaguar Land Rover’s off-roading patents “have no merit”.
As reported by Automotive News Europe, Jaguar Land Rover filed a complaint in November 2020 with the International Trade Commission (ITC) in the United States, accusing the VW Group of infringing on patents for an off-road driving system.
It said the VW Group vehicles in question use its “patented inventions without payment or permission”, making specific reference to a patent for an “improved system for driving a vehicle on different driving surfaces, in particular off-road”.
The British firm wants the ITC to halt the import of certain VW Group products – specifically ones employing “certain vehicle control systems” that allegedly infringe on its patents – into the US. These models include the Lamborghini Urus and Porsche Cayenne as well as Audi’s Q8, Q7, Q5, A6 Allroad and e-tron vehicles, in addition to the Volkswagen Tiguan.
According to Automotive News Europe, the VW Group said it would “robustly” defend its position.
“We will, of course, co-operate with investigating authorities. While we cannot comment on any details of the proceedings, we strongly believe that the claims have no merit and will robustly defend our position,” the company said in a statement.
US-based Car and Driver reports the case centres on the driving-mode system that debuted in the Bentley Bentayga, which the British firm seemingly feels infringes on Land Rover’s patented Terrain Response system.
