Mahindra issues response to FCA’s allegations

Mahindra & Mahindra has issued an official statement in response to Fiat Chrysler Automobiles.

On August 1, 2018, FCA had filed a complaint against Mahindra at the US International Trade Commission, claiming that the Mahindra Roxor looks like the iconic Willy’s Jeep and infringes key characteristics of the brand. The Italian automotive giant stated that the styling of the Roxor off-roader is an infringement of the design cues of the iconic Willy’s Jeep, and that it threatens the brand with substantial injury.

Mahindra has responded to FCA stating, ‘We understand that a complaint has been filed by FCA with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) against Mahindra. Mahindra has not yet been served with the complaint, and we prefer not to comment at length on the dispute at this time. However, we have reviewed FCA’s core filing and find it to be without merit.

The relationship [between Mahindra and Jeep] began in the 1940’s with the original agreement with Willys and continues to this day, with the most recent agreement executed with FCA (then Chrysler Group LLC) in 2009.’

Mahindra also states that their actions, products and product distribution (including ROXOR) both honour the legacy of the relationship and the terms of our agreements with FCA, and that both brands have been co-existing for over 25 years in India and other markets as well, and the fact that the Roxor is derived from vehicles sold by Mahindra in those respective markets.

The official statement concluded that ‘Based on these agreements and our history, we believe that FCA’s claims are baseless, and Mahindra is well within its rights to both manufacture and distribute the ROXOR off-road vehicle.’