F&I Management & Training

Mercedes-Benz may take legal action to stop China Automobile Deutschland's plans to launch a Shuanghuan Noble mini to be shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show next month. The Noble has a design very similar to the smart ForTwo, except that it has four seats, and its German importer expects to sell it as the EU's cheapest new car at around ?7,000 (£4,800). A spokesman for the Mercedes Car division, which recently took legal action to prevent misue of its branding in the UK aftermarket, said: 'We take intellectual property very seriously and we reserve the right to pursue legal action. (The Noble) is a blatant attempt to copy a product of ours that has achieved cult status worldwide.'

DATED: 23.08.07

FEED: AW