In August, bailiffs acting on behalf of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) seized digital records from BYD’s offices in Schiedam and Hoofddorp, Netherlands, as part of an alleged intellectual‑property infringement case.

JLR alleges that BYD’s Ti7, a seven‑seat plug‑in hybrid SUV marketed as China’s answer to the Defender, infringes its patents or designs, though it has not disclosed which specific rights are at issue.

Under Article 1019b of the Dutch Code of Civil Procedure, a judge may order seizure of evidence before a main trial if there is a risk of loss or concealment, even without first hearing the other party.

A court in The Hague is expected to rule this week on whether the August seizure can be used in JLR’s case and whether the lawsuit can proceed; the decision will not yet determine if any copying occurred.

BYD’s lawyers describe the seizure as a “fishing expedition” and argue that too many files were taken, while JLR accuses BYD of obstructing the process.

Both companies have declined to comment publicly, and no court documents have been released as of the report date.

The BYD Ti7 and its market positioning

The Ti7 launched in China on 9 September 2025 under BYD’s Fangchengbao sub‑brand, priced at about USD 26,900 (KES 3.5 million).

In the United Kingdom it is offered in a single trim at £47,995 (approximately KES 8.3 million), with showroom arrivals this month and customer deliveries slated for January 2027.

The Ti7 combines a 1.5‑litre turbocharged petrol engine with electric motors to produce 408 PS and claims a 0‑62 mph time of 4.8 seconds, while its 35.6 kWh battery delivers up to 74 miles (119 km) on electric power alone.

Compared with the seven‑seat Defender 110, which starts at £68,465 (KES 11.9 million) in the UK, the Ti7 is roughly £20,470 (KES 3.6 million) cheaper, though the two models use different powertrains and engineering.

Implications for Kenya and future developments

In Kenya, the Defender is sold by Land Rover Kenya, while BYD currently offers seven models through CFAO Mobility; the Ti7 does not appear on BYD Kenya’s catalogue and the company has not confirmed a local launch.

BYD has filed a trademark application for the Ti 7 name in South Africa, suggesting possible regional expansion, though its South African arm declined to comment.

If the Hague court permits JLR to use the seized files, the automaker will rely on them in its effort to prove that BYD copied the Defender, a strategy that follows earlier JLR cases focusing on technical rather than purely aesthetic infringement.