All eyes are on Jaguar Land Rover to see whether it will take action against Chinese car makers Changan Auto and Jiangling Motors Corporation. The Chinese joint venture launched its LandWind X7 SUV at the Guangzhou motor show in November. An astonished trade press reported that it has the same bodyshape, lights and radiator grill as the Range Rover Evoque. The biggest difference is the price tag – some £24,000 cheaper for the Chinese model.

Complaint

Jaguar has refused to comment further, but chief executive officer Dr Ralf Speth told Autocar magazine that he would “complain to Chinese officials”.  Onlookers say he has his work cut out to prove to a Chinese court that a Chinese manufacturer has infringed a patent. The stakes are high for Jaguar - China accounts for 24 per cent of Jaguar Land Rover's global sales and it has invested in a £1 billion manufacturing plant there.

China's marketshare increases

And it’s not the only manufacturer which needs to worry.  According to analysts IHS Automotive, China’s share of the ultra-luxury car market has grown from 12 to 27 per cent in the last five years, and for Maserati and Rolls Royce, it is a larger market than all of Europe combined.