Changan Auto claims Geely’s Galaxy Light prototype EV is a rip-off 

Changan Auto has made a claim that Geely’s upcoming Galaxy Light prototype electric vehicle (EV) is a rip-off of its own concept car and products.  

Galaxy Light concept car

According to China-based business publication Yicai Global, Changan tapped a law firm to issue a legal letter to Geely on February 27, 2023.  This letter from Changan then claims that the Light prototype EV looks a bit too similar to its own concept cars.  

To further add to the turmoil, a Chinese blog specifically compared the Uni-V and the SL03 to the Light concept. Via a posted side-by-side comparison, it points out the design of the Galaxy Light’s front lower bumper and LED headlamps to be dead ringers for the same parts on the two aforementioned Changan models. 

This may then constitute an infringement towards Changan’s intellectual property (IP) if found to be true. As such, it has requested Geely to cease doing so. 

Responding to the allegations, Geely said that it respects IP rights and the “protection of originality.” The brand also reiterated that the Galaxy Light was based on its own designs, and it is not plagiarizing or copying any car designs from other car makers and entities.  

The design comparisons between the Galaxy Light (pictured top), Changan SL03 (bottom left and right) and UNI-V (bottom middle) as posted by a Chinese blogger

Geely’s own response further states that the accusations against them were groundless. It also caused severe damage to their brand, and it has also misled the public.  

There’s also the point that the Galaxy Light is still a concept car, and so the brand has yet to make any discernable profits from it. As such, Yicai Global says that Changan’s case isn’t likely to hold weight if deliberated upon by a Chinese judicial body.  

It is also common in the automotive world for car designers to move around to different car brands in their careers. As such, it would not be surprising if a designer’s tastes and sensibilities were also carried over to another brand. 

In this case, the guy that came up with the Light concept’s design is Geely Automobile Vice President of Design Chen Zhengcheng. He has previously worked for Changan Automobile for 20 years and was responsible for designing the UNI series of crossovers, as well as the Eado EV. He then joined Geely back in March 2022 after resigning from his global design director post at Changan back in December 2021.  

Changan UNI-V

Remember that Geely is launching the Light under the new luxury EV sub-brand. Some Galaxy concept cars, including the Light, were revealed at an event in Hangzhou, China on February 23. Their production versions are then slated to be sold to the public by 2025. 

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