Nokia's First Targets: Four Geely-Linked Auto Brands – Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Lotus, Smart
August 6, 2025——The UPC Mannheim LD updated case information, more details can be found that Nokia is suing Geely Group for patent infringement.
In addition to Geely Group, the defendants include three of Geely's own brands—Zeekr, Lynk & Co, and Lotus—as well as the Smart brand, which was once a joint venture between Geely and Daimler (with Geely later withdrawing). In total, there are as many as 32 defendants, covering subsidiaries of these brands in major European countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Belgium, Sweden, Portugal, Denmark, and the Netherlands.
From this development, it can be inferred that Nokia's main intention is to get injunctions covering 18 member states through the UPC litigation. If the UPC finds infringement and issues an injunction, it will prompt Geely Group to accelerate negotiations with Nokia on royalties for the use of 4G/5G technologies.
On July 22, 2025, Juve Patent reported that Nokia had filed a lawsuit against Chinese automaker Geely Group with the UPC and the Munich Regional Court in Germany on July 18. At the UPC, Nokia has filed claims regarding EP4090075 with the UPC Munich LD and regarding EP3799333 with the UPC Mannheim LD.
Regarding the patent litigated in the UPC Mannheim LD, Nokia has also filed lawsuits against Chinese smartphone manufacturers OPPO and vivo based on the patent family of this patent.
According to Geely's official announcement of its group's industrial layout and brand portfolio, currently, except for the two brands Volvo and Polestar, which have joined Avanci's 4G/5G program, other brands under Geely Group have not yet joined.
The brands sued this time, such as Lotus, Zeekr, and Lynk & Co, are all key models of Geely's layout in Europe. However, Geely Auto (Geely’s domestic passenger car brand), Geely Galaxy, Farizon New Energy Commercial Vehicles (the commercial vehicle brand), and the British LEVC brand (London Electric Vehicle Company) acquired by Geely in 2006 are not included in the list of defendants this time.
According to the records in the "Export" section of Geely Group's 2024 annual report published on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange,
In 2024, Geely Group's export volume reached 414,522 units, a year-on-year growth of 57%, accounting for 19.0% of the group's total sales volume. The Geely brand has focused on a comprehensive layout in markets in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Eastern Europe, and Central Africa. As of the end of 2024, the Geely brand has established 891 sales and service outlets in 81 countries worldwide.
Among them, Zeekr has entered more than 40 major international markets such as Sweden, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, and Mexico. The Lynk & Co joint venture company adheres to its strategy in Europe and the Asia-Pacific & Middle East regions. It has opened 10 clubs in 7 European countries and established 21 dealer outlets through collaboration with Volvo Cars, which have been put into operation, offering multiple models including Lynk & Co 01, 02, 03, 05, 06, and 09 to customers. Meanwhile, the Lynk & Co joint venture company also exported its compact all-electric SUV Lynk & Co 02 (named Lynk & Co Z20 in China) to Europe within the year.
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