If dieselgate weren’t enough, Volkswagen now faces accusations of wrongdoing on its hybrid cars. A Baltimore company claims the automaker used its hybrid engine technology and didn’t pay for it, reports The Detroit News.
In its complaint to the International Trade Commission, Paice LLC says it spent two and a half years “teaching its patented hybrid technology to VW.”
“After learning everything it needed from Paice, VW abruptly ended their collaboration,” the complaint says. “VW never licensed Paice’s technology. Instead, VW took Paice’s patented technology for itself, Audi, and Porsche—which share information and technology as related companies within the Volkswagen Group—without compensation.”
The company has gone after Toyota, Hyundai, and Ford over claims of hybrid patent infringement. The issue ended with Toyota and Hyundai paying out and signing license deals for Paice patents. Ford had previously licensed one of the patents, but has petitioned to cancel some of the Paice patents.
At the end of the day, Paice is seeking an order to prevent VW from importing its hybrids to the U.S. The company says it worked with VW and other automakers between 1999 and 2004, although VW didn’t introduce its first hybrid in the U.S. until 2010.
VW has declined to comment on the litigation.
Source: The Detroit News, Paice
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