Mahindra Roxor will go on sale in the US after court rules against Fiat

Mahindra wins triumphant after a US court verdict permits it to manufacture and sell its off-road utility vehicle, the Roxor, in the United States. Since its debut in the United States in 2018, Mahindra’s Roxor off-roader has been the subject of various lawsuits from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) – Stellantis due to its Jeep-like appearance. On July 19, the Eastern District Court of Michigan declared that Mahindra Automotive North America (MANA) can continue to produce, market, and distribute Roxor after 2020.

Fiat said Roxor is a “nearly identical copy” of the Jeep, with design aspects such as a “boxy body shape with flat-appearing vertical sides and rear body ending at about the same height as the hood.”

According to the complaint, the International Trade Commission stated in June 2020 that while the Roxor does not violate Fiat’s trademarks, it infringes on the trade dress a product’s appearance that differentiates its source to customers and recommended blocking the import and sale of Roxor parts.

Mahindra said that Roxor’s 2018 and 2019 models, which were the focus of legal action, were no longer in production and that the 2020 model had a new appearance with more design modifications planned.

However, the 6th US Circuit Court reversed the ruling last year and urged District Judge Gershwin Drain to examine whether Mahindra’s new design needed to maintain a “safe distance” from the design of Fiat’s car because the automaker was a “known infringer,” according to the newspaper.

In the United States, the Mahindra Roxor is available in two models: the standard model and the all-weather model. Both Roxor models are powered by a 2.5-litre diesel engine mated to either a 5-speed manual or an automatic transmission. The engine produces 61PS and 195 Nm of torque.

The Roxor has a top speed of 88kmph and a towing speed of 24kmph. While the vehicle cannot be legally driven on roadways and is exclusively for off-road usage, certain jurisdictions allow it to be driven on roads.

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