One Chinese Automaker is Causing Quite a Fuss at Ford
Ford believes emerging Chinese automaker Lynk & Co’s name sounds too similar to that of its Lincoln brand.
The American automaker has been granted an extension by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to formally oppose the trademark, with a November 15 deadline to file its opposition. A Lincoln spokesman confirmed to Automotive News the automaker plans on taking legal actions to prevent Lynk & Co from using its infringing trademark, believing that the name as it stands will confuse customers. “The Lincoln brand has a rich 100-year history and we intend to protect its reputation,” he said.
SEE ALSO: China’s Lynk & Co Will Tap Volvo for Engines and Platforms
Lynk & Co is a new automaker from Zhejiang Geely, the China-based parent company of Volvo. Recently, Geely and Volvo announced that Lynk & Co will be divided 50/50 between Geely Automobile and Volvo, with all three companies sharing technology and platforms.
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Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.
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"And if anyone is going to take that name and run it into the ground, it should be us."
If I were Geely, I would scrap Lynk & Co. They own 51% of Lotus. Why not go with that? Enter Formula E as Lotus and market that way. Just a thought.