The Bubble vs Smart ForTwo
December 7, 2007 by Alborz Fallah
The intellectual property battle continues as more and more Chinese cars make their way to Europe. The car at the centre of attention today is the Chinese-built minicar, better know as “the bubble”.
Originally planned for for the Bologna auto show today, the car has a remarkably similar shape to the Smart ForTwo, resulting in Daimler (parent of Smart) initiating legal action against the car’s importer, Martin Motors.
Although Martin Motors was under court orders not to display the vehicle, the car was briefly shown to a group of journalists so that the company could clear its name.
“We want everyone to see in real life how a four-seat front-engine front-wheel drive minicar differs from a rear-engine rear-wheel drive two-seater,” said Martin Motors spokesperson Viviana Martinelli.
The court now has to rule if the Chinese minicar violates Daimler’s copyright. The decision will set a precedence for Chinese cars destined for European markets.
If the court rules in favour of the Chinese, the 50kW 1.1-litre Bubble will go on sale in Italy and Romania by the end of December. The car is designed by Shuanghuan cars in Beijing.
What do you think? Does it look like a Smart ForTwo?
Print it: 
Aren’t you discussing your personal feelings here too though Steven!!!!!!!!!So I take it you think its ok for the Chinese to copy products that everyone else spends money on developing????? Fine have your opinion…..but it seems Damiler too think its wrong!
steven,
The point i was trying to make about the harbour bridge is if they built a similar copy to ours, wouldnt you be upset? i cant see why the same uproar wouldnt be made with them coping others designe, the cars are very close you have to admit and its not the first car they have done it too….. i cant understand your point?
Here you go Steven,this was posted in July this year!
FRANKFURT (XFN-ASIA) – German auto makers DaimlerChrysler and BMW have threatened legal action against Chinese rivals which they accuse of making copies of their own models, the Financial Times reported.
DaimlerChrysler (nyse: DCX – news – people ) said it would consider unspecified legal action if Chinese manufacturer Shuanghuan Automobile showed its Noble (nyse: NE – news – people ), which the German group says resembles its Smart Fortwo, at next month’s Frankfurt motor show.
‘We take intellectual property protection very seriously,’ a DaimlerChrysler spokesman said.
‘We decided to reserve the right to pursue legal action.’
The London-based newspaper illustrated its story with pictures of the two models, which showed the Noble looking extremely similar in shape and design to the micro-sized Smart vehicle.
BMW also said it was considering legal action against the importer of another Shuanghuan car — the CEO — which BMW claims resembles a previous version of its X5 sports utility vehicle which was discontinued in 2006.
Steven how many other car manufactures in the world fight another on copying their product…….I can’t think of one except for the Chinese!
I guess it is part of developing process for developing countries, learning, copying, and then start creating their own. Just like Japan in 1970’s and Korea in 1990’s. If you cannot afford to have your products made at your backyard, then you have to take the risks. Again, ‘Missile’, I feel sorry for you and your company. You have no control over your product and no choice. It looks like your company is teaching the Chinese how to make your products, but on the other hand hope they will forget what they have learned. Ha, do you think it will work? Mate, this is a real commercial world, very competitive. Let the court decide.
Time for me to go surfing, wouldn’t you guys like a relaxing moment at beach? Cheers.
Agreed Steven…….let the court decide! We just shouldn’t have to spend money defending our designs thats what pisses me off! Maybe they will learn if more do take them to court…..I can only hope.
A bit windy here in Perth to go to the beach…..may wash the cars and watch a DVD!! I couldn’t surf if I tried…..no balance or coordination!!
Basically, Steven is China. Because his positioning is exactly the same. Trying to push the boundary of what is acceptable by law, always trying to find loop holes for the purpose to ripping off as much foreign intellectual properties as possible.
His diversion into talking about Chinese ballistic missiles is not a joke because it was completely irrelevant and supports no valid arguments to speak of. It was more about a show of brute force in the absence of the ability to claim moral high ground in a debate. A bullying tactic that reflects a deeper sense of inferior complex.
The Chinese knows exactly what copying is, funny in fact Steven admitted China is the Devil to deal with, a freudian slip?. All Steven is defending at the end of the day, is the excuse for China to keep raping and selling foreign IP for making money. No Steven, you have failed to make a single valid point other than that.
Funny too, notice how Steven tried to Save Face by retreating to the beach?
Very Chinese like LMAO!!!
Difficult to understand my hatred too coping I guess….unless you have faced it yourself! Saving face is a full time occupation in China……my other half is currently there again 3rd time in 6 weeks trying to differentiate between what their telling us in production and the cover up stories you constantly get! Have just put the s..ts up them by threatening to remove our tooling and projects from them……funny how cooperative they can be when you do that.
I seriously wouldn’t recommend anyone goes into manufacturing in China!!
To Momo, I don’t know how you understand other people’s words. First, when I used ‘Devil’, I used a quotation mark. Second, when I talked about ‘Chinese missile’, I used a smiling symbol – ^_^, because someone here has a nickname ‘Missile’. Why did you try to make it a political battleground and personal?
On the other hand, is there any ruling concerning this ‘Bubble’ Car? If the court rules in favour of Daimler, then you have the legal ground to accuse the Chinese. But the court rules in favour of the Chinese car manufacturer, then how do you gain your so-called ‘moral ground’? You have the absolute right to express your opinion. It is easy to make accusation. But before knowing the court’s ruling, your accusation is simply your perception and personal views, without any legal support.
To Momo and ‘Missile’, if you think the Chinese is copying your products, why don’t you launch a lawsuit against the Chinese manufacturer in Australia and China, just like Daimler, and preventing them to do that? If your company wins, then you will have 100% moral and legal support. I am not defending piracy, please do not make another false accusation here. What I want to say here is, if you want to get the upper hand, you got to stand up and fight. Let the court and law decide. If you cannot cope with the situation and face the challenge, then just go away. It is simply useless and not wise to keep bashing products made by foreign countries, without any legal ground. It only makes you sound like a loser.
By the way, have you guys known the test result of this ‘Bubble’ car? If no, saying the car a ‘crap’ is another groundless accusation. Quoting a Hyundai marketing manager, it is ‘perception’, rather than ‘reality’. Whether you like it or not, the world is still going to China for their supplies. One of the proofs is that now China has $1.3 trillion foreign reserve, the world’s largest. Most of the money is earned from manufacturing export.
Steven, Wow, a pretty long post, well researched, well written and carefully considered. So how long did it took you to write that garbage?
So how’s the beach? Was it relaxing for you? A nice sunny afternoon isn’t it? Can you even swim mate?
LMFAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m gonna grab have another beer and relax, its nice to have a comedian to laugh at on a Sunday afternoon, so thank you for your performance, it’s been very entertaining.
Cheers!
Launching legal action in China is a waste of time……..You have to stop it getting into other countries as is Daimler are doing!
We have already taken action in Australia but our intellectual property laws are pretty lame compared to that of Europe and the USA! If you can stop importers bringing knock offs in then China wont have a business in copying as importers will stop buying if they think their product is a direct knock off! Is that enough legal ground for you Steven? Do you think its right as manufacturers and designers we should have to defend our patents??? I am sure Daimler have enough proof to prove this is a blatant pass off and if not I hope that China think twice before trying again!
Who sounds like the loser Steven?? How do I sound like a loser complaining about China copying our design registered products ……even down to the colours!! We have done all we can do to protect them !
I wouldn’t count on Chinas economy Stephen …..there are spending more than they as a Country are earning…..buildings and Cities are booming with growth but it seems the Government are running out of money!! With every boom there is a bust believe, me its coming soon! Over the last few weeks the banks have stopped people taking money out of their accounts in China..more than likely so the Government can prop up some venture…..like the Olympics!
“I wouldn’t count on Chinas economy Stephen …..there are spending more than they as a Country are earning”
China has a current account surplus of like 7% so I don’t know where you’re getting your facts from.
Why is this discussion about China anyway? Daimler are suing a company for importing Shuanghuan automobiles. Learn to distinguish between a country/government and a company.
For the record, from what I know of Australian intellectual property law, in Australia if the equivalent litigation proceeded then it would very likely fail.
Also, I think it’s really a cheap last ditch effort by Daimler to try and make some money from what can only be described as a total disaster (smart made losses of 5 billion between 2003-2006)
Where I get my facts from are the people that live there not some economist …..Governments have a great way of playing up their economys too other Countries especially China’s economy was bought up by Stephen not me!
Andrew said ” For the record, from what I know of Australian intellectual property law, in Australia if the equivalent litigation proceeded then it would very likely fail.” Wrong not by my accounts in defending our products in Australia against copies.The passing off law is determined by the general public perception in the copy looking like the original! We won our case so I imagine if in Australia Daimler would too! Design registration is something totally different! Im not saying that the copy won’t end up being sold in Europe but it will be under Daimlers watchful eye determining what changes would be needed to be made before it could be sold! Normally it is the most money spent on lawyers that also determines a win! We all know that the Chinese wouldn’t want to spend money defending something they may lose anyway! Lets just see how the case goes ha!!
I would think Daimler wouldn’t be receiving money from the law suit Andrew it will cost them too defend …….BIG BUCKS!!
To ‘Missile’, you don’t need to count on Chinese economy. You are just an individual. But unfortunately, the Australian economy is relying heavily on Chinese economy at the moment. Just read the newspaper. I hope your prediction, ‘burst of China’, will not affect Australia in the future.
Regardless which side wins the lawsuit, I think it is not a bad thing for both sides. If Daimler wins, then the result of the lawsuit will have a profound effect on Chinese car manufacturers. The Chinese will learn a lesson, as a result, they will start taking IP seriously, and start investing, creating and improving their products. If the Chinese car manufacturer wins, then it shows that Chinese manufactures start thinking globally. Consumers are the ultimate beneficiaries of a legal competition.
I think Americas economy is affecting ours more at the moment and will continue as always! They sneeze and we get a cold!
Chinas economy will be in denial just like Americas has been for the last 6 years!
Anyway in regard to the lawsuit yep I agree ……..!May just be a win win for us!
I can’t believe people on here actually think these two cars don’t look the same!!
There are so many similarities: Doors, Side Window, Door Handles, B & C Pillars, Two Tone paint, Side Sills, Roof Profile, Wheel arches!! And this is only what we can see from the surface!!
The main difference between the Smart and the Chinese rubbish is the smart has more of a Cab-Forward design and is probably a lot safer.
And do you think teh Chinese car will pass the Moose Test??
Doubt it!!
And the Chinese Cars a 4 Seater??
Seriously.. for what.. KNOMES!!??
The cars look similar, yes. Are they close enough to warrant anger? Perhaps.
There are a few small cars out there, like the Fiat 500, Ford Ka and Nissan Micra that all look different, but aim for the same basic target.
Having said that, the Smart is unique in its size and packaging and if you want to make a car that is just as small and still usable, how much different could you possibly make it?
The courts will have to decide on rational arguments not purely on emotions or subjective assessments. However, part of the ruling will no doubt include public perception which makes me think the Chinese Bubble is about to be burst.
I heard some big Australian car dealers had already signed up to distribute and sell a Chinese-made light commercial vehicle here, probably late next year. It would be interesting to see if there is any lawsuit against them at that time. I reckon a lawsuit might be a good way to kill off a potential competitor?
Whether the profile is an exact copy or not its evident they copied the smart just by the colour coding. It makes it obvious thats what they were trying to do. My problem with these is the safety ratings. Most of these chinese cars shouldnt be allowed on an australian road and i hope they arent allowed.
When you think about it carefully, who will buy chinese 12k cars etc? Young kids with little money to spend.. Do we want that demographic driving unsafe vehicles? I hope that a minimum ancap rating is incorporated into compliancing a vehicle for sale here. The new age barina shouldnt be on aussie roads! 2star safety?? It should be illegal…. Money should only govern so much..