Many Chinese manufacturers are also following this easy way of producing cheap cars by imitating successful designs. The Chinese market is often called 'The Gray Market', simply because of their stunning replicas. But hey! These are very good copies of the originals!
One Chinese car company Shuanghuan was banned for selling its BMW X5 look alike called the 'CEO' in the EU and fined a hefty sum. Even cars like the Chevrolet Spark (Geely, China), the Smart fortwo, have not been spared.
1. Chevrolet Spark vs Chery QQ
The QQ became the center of an industrial copyright and intellectual rights controversy, as General Motors claimed the car was a copy to the Daewoo Matiz (which is marketed outside South Korea as the Chevrolet Spark). GM executives demonstrated the extent of the design duplication, noting for example that the doors of the QQ and those of the Spark are interchangeable without modification. This one was so extreme, some parts of one car fit into the other (e.g. door panel, bonnet etc). GM China Group indicated the two vehicles "shared remarkably identical body structure, exterior design, interior design and key components."
2. Vauxhall Frontera vs Landwind
3. Honda CRV vs Laibao SRV
Check out the semi-Audi front logo too!
4. Mercedes C Class vs Geely Merrie 300
The Geely was shown in an auto exhibition. I don't think it was eventually produced looking like this though.
5. Neoplan Starliner vs Zonda A9
6. Rolls-Royce Phantom vs Hongqi HQD
7. Swatch Smart vs Chinese Smart
8. Toyota Prado vs Dadi Shuttle
9. Nissan XTrail vs Greatwall Sing
10. BMW 7 vs BYD F6
For this, the copying is not so drastic except the lights, but it does get brownie points for imitating the badge as well.
11. Bonus! Logos
BMW vs BYD
Toyota Logo vs Geely Logo
12. China Automobile's Chika vs Tata Nano
The Chika was showcased at the Paris Motor Show, as an attempt to show to the world that China has arrived to the low cost automobile party and to intimidate the Nano. Designed by Li Shi Guang Ming, one of China's best known car designers, the Chika aims to facilitate personal mobility in crowded cities.
We don't see it as a threat to the Tata Nano, just because its an electric car, but its a cute little thing. Whether the Chika is destined for big things, and whether it will get the same kind of attention from the worldwide automotive press as the Tata Nano did earlier, remains to be seen.
13. Geely Panda vs 2009 Suzuki Alto
We think the Geely Panda is the result of a Chinese man's world tour. Take a look at this car, you will surely think of the new Alto. Its shaped exactly like the Alto. This car has Italian eyes,a Korean mouth, Japanese Body, Italian name, finally a Chinese mother.
The Headlamps have been lifted straight from the newly launched Alfa MiTo. Body shape – well thats from the new Alto. Rear from Toyota Aygo, Engine and front grille from some Korean car(which we could'nt care about), and named after Fiat Panda. Just look at the interiors, a circular central console- never seen anything like it, looks very funky though. Overall, its a great balanced mixture of good looking small cars.
14. Great Wall Florid vs Toyota Yaris & Suzuki Swift
Here's the ultimate copy car. We are quite that at first glance, you would have had trouble, in distinguishing cars in the left from those in the right. The pictures in the left are the front and rear views of Great Wall Florid (What a name!!). In the right top, we have the Toyota Yaris below which is the Suzuki Swift. Now its time for criticism!!
Check out the front Grille. The company badge is in the same place, which is ok, but the curve indent below the badge is not. We think, they have just cut a Yaris in half, and have used the front portion.
To distinguish this car from the Yaris, the designers had come up with a brilliant plan. Once again, they cut another car in half, this time a Swift, and have used its read. What a great idea! No wonder Chinese cars are cheap.
They don't have to spend much hiring designers to designing cars, instead they buy sheets of tracing paper, a scaning machine and a printer, Job done. New car in no time! There has been no sense of imagination at all, when it comes to the design of this car. Now that's what we call a copy car!
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