Chinese company at it again? Ford Bronco's design 'copied' days after launch

Several Chinese companies across a wide range of sectors are infamous for copying designs of products - often quite blatantly. A few Chinese automakers are also guilty of replicating designs of vehicles manufactured and sold by other companies and this debatable issue has once again reared its contentious head after a carmaker's latest renderings of a vehicle was found to have uncanny similarities with the recently-launched Ford Bronco.

Wey P01's images have gone viral on social media after many observed that its design was very similar - if not identical - to Ford's new offering. Netizens have highlighted how the boxy structure of the vehicle, its head light design, LEDs and a rear profile - barring slightly tweaked tail lights - are unmistakably picked from the Bronco.

Wey is a new brand from Great Wall Motors - a dominant local player in the Chinese auto market. Its renderings of P01 has once again ignited the debate about whether Chinese car makers are copying designs in toto, are inspired by them or these are just co-incidental cases. It is very unlikely that vehicles like P01 would be taken to markets out of China which gives local players some leeway.

Fresh images revealing details to the new WEY P01 have dropped. The off-road focused model is planned for Chinese sale later this year. WEY, founded in 2016, is an upmarket SUV division of China's Great Wall Motor. pic.twitter.com/F5F0VrwBn5

— Greg Kable (@GregKable) July 17, 2020

It is not clear if Wey, however, does have launch plans for the P01.

Ford designers, however, are unlikely to be too pleased even if the Bronco's design is apparently labeled 'inspirational.'

Pre-production versions of the all-new 2021 Bronco family of all-4x4 rugged SUVs, include (left) Bronco two-door in Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat, Bronco four-door in Shadow Black and Bronco Sport in Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat.

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Pre-production versions of the all-new 2021 Bronco family of all-4x4 rugged SUVs, include (left) Bronco two-door in Cyber Orange Metallic Tri-Coat, Bronco four-door in Shadow Black and Bronco Sport in Rapid Red Metallic Tinted Clearcoat.

The all-new Bronco re-enters the scene with an all-4x4 lineup with production beginning in early 2021 and first models arriving in Ford dealerships next spring. Just like the first-generation Bronco, nicknamed G.O.A.T., the mission of the all-new 2021 Bronco is to deliver maximum 4x4 go-anywhere, anytime capability and confidence.

Bronco is made available in a two-door and a four-door set up, and Ford is betting big on nostalgia and a modern drive and cabin to bring in customers. (Click here to read all about Ford Bronco)