Don't just blame the Chinese, everybody out here's a copycat!!

[salilpawar1]

I guess now you can udnerstand the difference between "Inspiration or Inspired by" and "Blatant Rip-Of"f

Dear Mods,
I think the thread should be CLOSED now (many would agree). I never wanted this discussion to be a BIG BAD ARGUMENT SESSION.

My personal conclusions from this thread:

1) The Chinese are big fat copycats. I never had any doubt about that.

2) Taking a few bits from here and there = "INSPIRATION"
Complete copying = "COPYING"
So by the same logic, if a scene from a bollywood movie is copied from a hollywood movie, it is "INSPIRATION". If the whole movie is copied, it is "COPYING".

3) If a big manufacturer has a car which has some design cues similar to a successful car, it is Inspiration. If the manufacturer is a smaller one, then it is copied. I can find some examples where a car made by a smaller manufacturer with some famous design elements branded as "rip-offs".

4) I think there is a myth developed that bigger manufacturers can never copy... even if one of their models do appear a bit copy, then it is purely a "coincidence".

5) I still stand by all my views. I am not saying that Chinese are not copycats.

I can still give many more examples with pictorial proof but it is going to be a waste of time...

[rahul_intlad]

Salil I dont think there is any problem with the thread, your point is absolutely valid The chinese are not the only copy cats,just that their way of copying is a bit too much for anyone to pass off lightly.

[sbasak]

I just can't believe my eyes! Looks like they have used a photocopy machine to copy cars!

BTW, how much does that fake Merc cost?

[theMAG]

Originally Posted by spadival

So its not just the western designs they are ripping off.

Actually, we're a western country geographically to China

[MaserQ]

Originally Posted by typeOnegative

Thanks Rahul. And that link says it all. Rip-off is the word.

The pics say it all. The Chinese blatantly make imitations of other successful vehicles, whereas certain other manufacturers are inspired by other designs/styling elements from rival car companies.

Also, cars of a certain generation tend to follow certain 'trends' that are started by a few designers and then catches on. (flame surfacing/i-drive by BMW, Gaping grille by Audi)

[salilpawar1]

Originally Posted by MaserQ

Also, cars of a certain generation tend to follow certain 'trends' that are started by a few designers and then catches on. (flame surfacing/i-drive by BMW, Gaping grille by Audi)

Then why is this car termed as a copy? Apart from the grille (and maybe a slight resemblance in headlamps), nothing is common between the two cars.

This is what the source Automotoportal.com quotes:

In some comparison pictures, you can’t even tell the original from the copy, as in the case of the SMA Shanghai Maple and the Audi S4 Cabrio.

From what I've heard, it should be a copy, only if it appears identical from all angles. Anyway, the so-called "copy" is not even a cabrio. And apart from the front end, there is nothing similar in both cars..

[amit]

I couldn't make out any difference between the Chinese and the original Smart!

About the Swift and Fabia, yes they look very similar but it's difficult to say who copied whom. I am guessing both the cars were being designed around the same time. Swift was launched in 2004(?), which means the designing must have started in 2002. The Fabia's re-design must have started around the same time isnt it? So who copied whom? I had a very similar discussion with one of my prospective clients in a VW dealership in Toronto. He said that the new Jetta's tail lamps made the cars rear look very similar to the Corolla. This is true, but the MK VI Golf was introduced in Europe in 2002. The Corolla was launched in US/Canada around the same time too which means both the cars were being designed around the same time and in this case the Corolla was being designed in Japan or US (it's biggest markets) while the Golf in Europe. It's really difficult to say who made the design first. For Canadians, Jetta looks like Corolla because Corolla was launched in the market first, so people saw it first. Maybe the way the Golf was designed made the Jetta rear look like the Corolla even though that wasn't the intention of the designers? Couldn't that be a possiblity too? But yea, the Chinese are blatant copy cats. No doubts about that!

I still can't believe the Smart design copy. What is the difference between the two?!

[300 KMPH]

Check out the similar rear ends of the new Hyundai Elantra and Toyota Corolla
Toyota Corolla

Hyundai Elantra

[salilpawar1]

Bajaj has been copying the Piaggio Ape and is still copying it. (not to mention the old Vespa scooters)

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The old Piaggio Ape


Bajaj FE

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The new Piaggio Ape


Bajaj GC1000


Mahindra Alpha Champion has copied the design too....!!

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This might be a coincidence but check out the similarities.

Volkswagen Logo (turned by 90 degrees)


Bajaj Logo


Bluetooth Logo


What do you all guys think??

[esteem_lover]

Well, how different can you design this stupid 3 wheeled contraption, although i might be interested if someone incorporates 1% of safety aspect for driver, driven & others.

[sajo]

Just check out this post by Ram. : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/394237-post41.html (Hummers in Delhi !!)

[salilpawar1]

Originally Posted by sajo

Just check out this post by Ram. : http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/394237-post41.html (Hummers in Delhi !!)

This is what Ram has posted:

Here's a convoy of Chinese-made diesel Dongfeng EQ2050s on a bitterly cold Mongolian morning. Unlike the H2 this is as tough as the American HMMWV.




And this is the SFQ-2040 "Zhanshen" (meaning WarGod) made by Shenyang Aircraft Industry Co (SAC), China.



Its price is only one third of the price of the U.S.-made HMMWV.
It's carrying an air defence missile system by Běifāng Gōngyè, China
against missiles, UAWs, low-flying aircraft and helicopters.

Humvee clones in India....HUNKY and TUFFY......Funny Names

[ananthkamath]

Originally Posted by salilpawar1

This might be a coincidence but check out the similarities.

Volkswagen Logo (turned by 90 degrees)


Bajaj Logo


Bluetooth Logo


What do you all guys think??

I think this is plain funny, turning the VW logo by 90 degrees.

[salilpawar1]

Another *inspired* design??

[salilpawar1]

Mercedes Vario/ Tempo Excel and Tata 407


I am not sure whether Merc and Tata had any contract during that time...
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Honda Cub and Bajaj M80



So, what moral right does Bajaj have to sue a Chinese bike maker who has made a copy of the pulsar ??