Tong Tian mini car spotted out – has the cloning gone full circle now?
When BYD displayed the BYD F0 at the Geneva car show a few years ago, they were accused by many of copyright infringement due to the F0′s likeness to the Toyota Aygo, of course BYD dismissed these accusations and claimed they had their own IPR to the car. Perhaps BYD would like to take a look at Jilin Provinces Tong Tian Auto’s latest model:
This model is Tong Tian’s Glow (in Chinese its 阁萝/Ge Lo), the previous generation had a crude Polo style quad headlamp arrangement and appeared to be based on a first generation Suzuki Alto. The latest generation appears to have taken on some serious BYD F0 styling but with added beef around the rear end and front wings, the tail pipe seems to have moved into the center as well and looks to have been seriously beefed up when compared to the BYD F0′s pea shooter.
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This is a curious development. Tongtian, a company once known as Jiangbei, and owned by Li Shufu’s brother, was absorbed by Jiangnan in 2005, which in turn was absorbed by Zotye in 2007. Can it be that Zotye has a hand in this new model, or is this a revival of a remnant of the original Tongtian company, that somehow survived in Jilin?
Tongtian was said to have German help in designing the original Geluo. But its claims to IPR were challenged because of a resemblance to the VW Polo.
Also the logo seen here appears to be the old Tongtian logo turned upside down.
I never knew it was part of the Shu Fu empire. Can you expand on it?
Hi Ash,
Sorry but the point I made about Li Shufu’s brother owning Jiangbei/Tongtian was incorrect. Li Shutong, owner of JMStar Motorcycle in Shanghai, needed a license to move into carmaking and apparently got it from Jiangbei, a state-owned machinery company. The outcome, as I understand it, is the present Geely subsidiary, Maple.
The following site explains the Jiangbei-Tongtian relationship:
http://uy2.mofcom.gov.cn/aarticle/supplydemandofchina/200412/20041200008734.html
Perhaps Eric can elaborate…..
Thanks for clearing that up, Dragin. This vehicle is a mystery.
Bloody hell guys-why waste yr time even wanting to discuss this POC.
Because its amazing, really it is. Fantastic how the circle of automotive life actually revolves in China.
People like you will never understand.
Hello Ash, someone is cheating here!
I have seen this car before:
1. TJ Innova Design Studios showed a concept at the Shanghai 2007 Salon which was called Lesuccess. This vehicle was a bit smaller but has exactly the same front end.
2. Recently (December 2009) this car was seen on the internet, announced as BYD F0 update. A picture of the steering wheel showed a very strange unknown logo.
The name Tongtian Glow (Geluo) and the logo (yes, upside down,not very clever, you are right, Dragin!) doesn’t prove the vehicle has something to do with Tongtian, it looks like a new disguise.
Rests the question: who is the maker? I guess a client from TJ Innova, but there are so many….
I found a link:
http://www.cochespias.net/foro/index.php?topic=12964.msg333582#msg333582
greetings! Erik.
Tried a few times to open this link, it refuses to open from China!
I don’t see any resemblance to the F0.
Ed – try opening your eyes, even the Chinese motoring press are calling it a 山寨F0.
how? and where? I don’t see it.
You are officially bonkers.
Just because I don’t see the similarities doesn’t mean I’m “bonkers”. I really don’t. Would you like to point them out? I’m sick and tired of people calling every Chinese car a copy without even having seen it. If it is a 山寨F0, then pretty much everything would have to be the same.
Ed. Obviously you haven’t seen any of these cars.
YOU haven’t seen any of the cars. Can ANYONE point out what makes it a 山寨F0? The front? The engine? Platform? The back(a side by side photo comparison shows obvious differences, in fact, everything is dofferent.)? Or is it just personal bias? I thought so.
Maybe you should head in to your eye doctor for a stronger prescription. Must be about that time.
Ok then, Mr.I am going to talk crap but I can’t find one similarity between this car and the BYD F0. Your words are useless. Point out one place where they are exactly the same, and then talk.
No point in trying to show a blind man anything.
Or is it just that you don’t have anything to show?
Ed I meant you haven’t seen a Chinese car in person.