Jaguar Land Rover suing Volkswagen Group to stop American SUV sales

Jaguar Land Rover is adding a new function to its Terrain Response system.

The system could soon be used in the courtroom to prevent the sale of some Volkswagen Group crossovers in the USA.

According to a filing lodged last week by Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) with the US International Trade Commission (USITC) and seen in full by Bloomberg, Volkswagen Group crossovers are offering features similar to JLR’s Terrain Response system without permission.

According to the British automaker, Volkswagen Group models infringing its patents should be prevented from entering the USA.

These include the Volkswagen Tiguan, Porsche Cayenne, and Lamborghini Urus, along with the Audi Q5, Q7, Q8, E-Tron, and A6 Allroad.

Terrain Response allows the driver to select an off-road driving mode suitable for different conditions, such as Sand, Mud and Ruts, and Rock Crawl. The car will then adjust its engine, braking, transmission, throttle and other systems accordingly.

The USITC can’t impose a fine if it rules in Jaguar Land Rover’s favour, but it could stop the sale of vehicles it deems as using technology too similar to Terrain Response without its permission.

Jaguar Land Rover sued Bentley in 2016 over features it says are similar to Terrain Response in the Bentayga.

Bentley failed to get the case dismissed, but an adjudication has yet to be reached on this and other cases between the British automaker and Volkswagen’s various subsidiaries.