Volkswagen Under Investigation for Stealing Hybrid Technology
Volkswagen is under investigation by the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) for potentially infringing on hybrid vehicle patents held by Baltimore-based company Paice.
Paice, which licenses hybrid technology to Toyota, Hyundai and Kia, worked with Volkswagen from 2001 to 2004, revealing its patented hybrid technology to the brand’s engineers.
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According to Paice, once Volkswagen learned everything they could from the company, the car brand broke off the partnership but continued to use the same algorithms and computer modeling.
Paice wants an ITC order that would completely block the import and sale of any hybrid vehicles from Volkswagen, Audi or Porsche in the U.S. This could be especially damaging as Volkswagen is currently shifting its focus to electrification after the diesel emissions scandal.
Volkswagen’s lawyers have already described the lawsuit at “weak” and said that pursuing it goes against the public interest.
[Source: Automotive News]
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Stephen covers all of the day-to-day events of the industry as the News Editor at AutoGuide, along with being the AG truck expert. His truck knowledge comes from working long days on the woodlot with pickups and driving straight trucks professionally. When not at his desk, Steve can be found playing his bass or riding his snowmobile or Sea-Doo. Find Stephen on <A title="@Selmer07 on Twitter" href="http://www.twitter.com/selmer07">Twitter</A> and <A title="Stephen on Google+" href="http://plus.google.com/117833131531784822251?rel=author">Google+</A>
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