IndiGo Sues Mahindra Electric for Using ‘6E’ in its Newly Launched EV
IndiGo has come down heavily on Mahindra Electric as the latter filed a trademark infringement case against the former for using the term ‘6E’ in its newly launched car.
IndiGo Sues Mahindra Electric for Using ‘6E’ in its Newly Launched EV
IndiGo has come down heavily on Mahindra Electric as the former filed a trademark infringement case against the latter for using the term ‘6E’ in its newly launched car.
A case was filed in the Delhi High Court after Mahindra unveiled its electric vehicle ‘BE 6E’. The matter will be heard again on December 9.
IndiGo flights use the name ‘6E’ as a callsign. In addition, several products of the airline major are branded in this manner. Mahindra has approached the national carrier to resolve the dispute, said IndiGo lawyers.
Notably, Mahindra Electric received a go-ahead from trademark registrar to register ‘BE 6E’ under Class 12. This includes a wide range of motor vehicles, excluding two-wheelers. IndiGo has challenged the approval reiterating that such steps could spark confusion among customers, which can thereby hamper the brand identity.
In an exchange filing the automaker shunned the lawsuit stating that ‘6E’ is different from IndiGo’s “6E,” which represents an airline. Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) stated that the new branding won’t create any confusion.
Mahindra & Mahindra informed the stock exchanges, “The company and Mahindra Electric Automobile Limited (MEAL) has taken on board the concerns that InterGlobe Aviation Limited (“Indigo”) have to infringe of their goodwill, which was not our intention. The company and MEAL are engaged in discussions with them to find an amicable solution.”
On November 26 Mahindra Electric launched BE 6e and XEV 9e at a price of Rs18.90 lakh and Rs 21.90 lakh respectively. Additionally, the company has apportioned ₹4,500 crore to develop these two models.