Bollinger Motors sues Munro Automobiles over similarity of its EVs
Two EV startups might quickly be battling it out in courtroom over alleged breach of contract and patent infringement.
EV startup Bollinger Motors filed a lawsuit this week within the U.S. District of Southern New York in opposition to Munro Automobiles, and its head designer, over alleged breach of contract, patent infringement and commerce gown infringement, in response to courtroom paperwork.
The central figures within the lawsuit are the Bollinger B1 SUV and B2 truck, the Munro MK_1 SUV and Ross Compton, a former contract designer for Bollinger who went on to grow to be lead designer for Munro. Bollinger alleges within the lawsuit that Compton breached his contract and violated a mutual non-disclosure settlement by referring to confidential Bollinger recordsdata, with Munro’s consciousness, whereas designing Munro merchandise.
Picture credit score: Screenshot from courtroom submitting
Bollinger additionally alleges that Munro has infringed on two of its patents for its authentic car designs and commerce gown infringement, a authorized time period meaning the likeness between the manufacturers’ merchandise may trigger confusion in a purchaser’s thoughts. Bollinger claims that this may inflict irreparable hurt to the model.
Picture Credit: Screenshot from courtroom submitting
Munro CEO Russell Peterson informed TechCrunch in an emailed assertion that the corporate is conscious of the allegations raised by Bollinger Motors inc.
“The corporate takes IP infringement extraordinarily critically and Munro intends to robustly defend its place over the distinctive design of the Munro MK_1 all-terrain car,” he wrote.
Bollinger and Munro each have developed rugged all-terrain autos meant for industrial use. Scotland-based Munro is particularly focusing on farmers, miners and those that work in heavy business sectors. The corporate, which was based in 2021 by Peterson and Ross Anderson, has mentioned it plans to convey its Munro MK_1 to market in 2024.
Bollinger Motors, a Michigan-based startup based by Robert Bollinger in 2015, is concentrated on producing all-electric industrial autos for courses 3 by means of 6. The corporate initially deliberate to supply the Bollinger B1 and B2 off-road electrical SUV and pickup vehicles. It later launched a chassis designed for a Class 3 industrial car with the goal to broaden its buyer base.
Bollinger paused growth on its B1 and B2 autos in January 2022. 9 months later, Mullen Automotive, an EV startup that went public through a merger with a particular objective acquisition firm, took a 60% stake in Bollinger. The transaction injected a wanted $148.2 million into the startup.
The companies mentioned, on the time, that the funding would assist fast-track the event of Bollinger’s class industrial electrical vehicles, together with a category 4 car anticipated in 2023, and assist it resume its shopper truck program.
Bollinger nonetheless maintains its personal board of administrators and Robert Bollinger continues to function the CEO. When requested concerning the lawsuit, Robert Bollinger mentioned Mullen isn’t talked about within the lawsuit as a result of the corporate retains possession of the IP portfolio and has the duty of defending it.
