Audi Wins Legal Battle Against Nio, Chinese Automaker Banned From Advertising Its ES6, ES8 Models

Audi wins legal battle against Nio, court bans Chinese Automaker from advertising its ES6, ES8 models in Germany.

A court in Munich said that the ES6 and ES8 names on the all-electric SUVs were too similar to Audi’s S6 and S8 models.

While Nio’s ES6 and ES8 are both luxury electric SUVs, the S6 and S8 are performance-oriented ICE sedans.

But Nio will be able to advertise its ES7 in Audi’s home country Germany, after renaming it to EL7 in the region in October.

Volkswagen-owned Audi AG has won a case against China’s all-electric car company, Nio, over its decision to name two of its models ES6 and ES8, which infringes Audi’s trademark rights, according to a ruling by a court in Munich.

Audi had in June last year filed a lawsuit in a Munich court against Nio over the name of its models ES6 and ES8, which the German brand believe sounds similar to its model designations S6 and S8.

Just like Audi, the Munich court believes that the ES6 and ES8 names were too similar to Audi’s S6 and S8 models, therefore banning Nio from advertising its ES6 and ES8 electric SUVs in Germany.

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In addition, the Chinese all-electric car maker also faces a fine of €250,000 ($269,650 at current exchange rates) or up to six months in prison for its managing director in Germany.

While Nio’s ES6 and ES8 are both luxury electric sports utility vehicles (SUVs), the S6 and S8 are performance-oriented Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) sedans.

But Nio will be able to advertise its electric SUV ES7 in Audi’s home country Germany, after renaming it to EL7 in the region in October, to accommodate Audi.

“We are careful to protect [our intellectual property] comprehensively,” Audi said, in a statement.

“The judgment confirms that the disputed model designations infringe Audi trademark rights. Many of our models have an iconic character—for us and for our customers. This also and especially applies to our sporty S models.”

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