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Jaguar Land Rover is seeking to block Volkswagen Group SUVs in the US

Jaguar Land Rover has filed a lawsuit to block certain SUVs from the VW Group from being imported into the US, alleging the VW Group has used its patented all-terrain technology without permission.


The technology in question is called Terrain Response, which is available on Land Rover SUVs like the Discovery Sport or Range Rover, or Jaguar SUVs like the F-Pace, and allows drivers to select from several drive modes optimised for various surfaces and conditions.

A newer version of this technology, known as Terrain Response 2, automatically senses the terrain and adjusts accordingly.

On its US website, Land Rover describes this technology as "a differentiator for Land Rover vehicles" that offers "an exceptional amount of Land Rover engineering in the simple twist of a dial".

In the filing with the US International Trade Commission, a lawyer for JLR reportedly stated: "JLR seeks to protect itself and its United States operations from companies that have injected infringing products into the US market that incorporate, without any license from JLR, technology developed by JLR and protected by its patent".

According to Autoblog, the specific models JLR wishes to block include the Porsche Cayenne, the Lamborghini Urus, the Audi Q8, Q7, Q5, A6 Allroad and E-Tron and the Volkswagen Tiguan.

It has also reportedly filed lawsuits in Delaware and New Jersey to seek compensation for the alleged infringement.

When contacted about whether the legal action would affect Australian-delivered vehicles, a local JLR spokesperson told Drive: "As a matter of policy,  Jaguar Land Rover does not comment on ongoing legal disputes, however protecting our Intellectual Property is something we take very seriously".

In a statement to Engadget, a Volkswagen spokesperson said: "The Volkswagen Group is examining the action in order to determine further steps. We will not comment any further regarding an ongoing proceeding at this stage".

According to its official website, the US International Trade Commission is "an independent, nonpartisan, quasi-judicial federal agency" and "a highly regarded forum for the adjudication of intellectual property and trade disputes".

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Susannah Guthrie

Susannah Guthrie has been a journalist for over a decade, covering everything from world news to fashion, entertainment, health and now cars. Having previously worked across titles like The New Daily, Elle, Harper's Bazaar, People Magazine and Cosmopolitan, Susannah now relishes testing family cars with the help of her husband and two-year-old son.

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