Nokia Sues Zeekr, Lynk & Co for Patent Infringement

On August 15, it was reported by German media that Nokia has filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Geely Group and its four major brands—Zeekr, Lynk & Co, Lotus, and Smart. The lawsuit affects 32 subsidiaries of Geely in 18 European countries. The involved patents focus on standard essential patents (SEP) in the field of cellular communications, including core patents such as EP3799333 (4G/5G Preamble Sequence Allocation) and EP4090075 (5G Beam Switching Technology).

Once infringement is established, Geely's related models will face a comprehensive sales ban in 18 countries, including Germany, France, Italy, and the Netherlands. This timing precisely targets Geely's European expansion plan: in 2024, Geely's export volume is expected to reach 414,500 units, a 57% year-on-year increase, with the European market contributing a crucial share. Lynk & Co, priced at over 40,000 euros per unit, continues to hold the top sales position among Chinese brands.

Chinese car companies' journey in Europe is encountering experiences similar to those of Chinese mobile phone companies. Nokia has brought out its core patent EP3799333 in lawsuits, which was previously used to sue OPPO, vivo, and other Chinese mobile phone manufacturers, leading to the ban of these manufacturers in Germany.

In addition, Nokia's lawsuit may be merely a means to an end, with the ultimate goal of prompting Geely Group to negotiate licensing fees for 4G/5G technology usage. Industry insiders warn that as Chinese automakers accelerate their overseas expansion, there is an urgent need to establish a patent risk prevention system to avoid being "bottlenecked" by technology licensing issues.