The war over “mixed-blood” Diamond Blue scooter ignited

Honda Vietnam and Piaggio Vietnam have officially accused Lisohaka of illegally using “Honda” logo and imitating “Piaggio” industrial design for its Diamond Blue 125cc. The Vietnam Register has ordered to seize the products circulating on the market. Meanwhile, Lisohaka has protested the decision.

In a meeting with press agencies on November 16 in Hanoi, Honda Vietnam and Piaggio Vietnam gave their official viewpoints about Diamond Blue 125cc which was launched into the market several months ago.

Koji Onishi, General Director of Honda Vietnam affirmed that “Honda” logo has been used illegally for the Diamond Blue 125cc.

At the meeting, representative from Honda Vietnam showed the documents proving that Diamond Blue uses the engine with “Honda” label, while there is no clear origin.

Japanese Honda Motor is now the only owner of “Honda” trademark, and Honda Vietnam is the only entity in Vietnam is allowed by Japanese Honda Motor to use “Honda” trademark. Lisohaka, the manufacturer of Diamond Blue cannot use the trade mark, because Honda Motor never granted them permission to use the trademark for the product.

Honda Vietnam tried to contact Honda Motor in Japan and Sundiro Honda in China and has received replies from the companies.

Honda Motor Co Ltd Japan has confirmed it has never developed, produced or granted licenses to engines coded “AF14E” to any units of Honda Motor worldwide. Therefore, no units of Honda throughout the world, including Sundiro Honda in China, has the right to use the commercial name or trademark to produce the engine coded “AF14E”.

Sundiro Honda Motorcycle Co., Ltd on September 30 affirmed that the company does not produce Honda engine with “AF14E” code and does not grant the quality certificate No SH001452 to the engine.

This means that Honda has no links with AF14E engine or Blue Diamond 125cc which have been imported, assembled and sold in Vietnam, and that Honda trademark has been illegally used for AF14E engine.

Costantino Sambuy, General Director of Piaggio Vietnam, said that Piaggio models have been copied by many manufacturers, but Blue Diamond 125cc is the most resembled copy of Piaggio’s Vespa LX. However, he admitted that Piaggio has not registered for the protection of Vespa LX industrial pattern in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Vu Manh Ha, General Director of Lisohaka, has affirmed that it is legal for the company to manufacture Diamond Blue and that the company has all necessary legal documents to prove the legitimacy of Diamond Blue.

Ha said that at first Lisohaka imported three engines which were then examined by the Vietnam Register. The Vietnam Register granted the quality certificate No 062/VAQ06 – 01/10, under which Diamond Blue use AF14E Honda engines produced by Sundiro Honda Motocycle Co.Ltd China.

Lisohaka also showed the certificate of origin granted by a Chinese competent agency which clearly points out that the product is sourced from China and the engine bears the trademark “Honda”.

Lisohaka also showed a document sent by Sundiro Honda to the Vietnam Register on October 11, 2010, confirming that it produces AF14E engines to export to South East Asia via Shenzhen Aerospace Guangyu Industry Group Corp.

The Vietnam Register has released a document, ordering Lisohaka to call back all Diamond Blue 125.

On November 17, Lisohaka released an official release, saying that the request by the Vietnam Register to call back Diamond Blue 125 is unreasonable which will cause losses to the manufacturer.

However, Lisohaka said it will obey the request by the management agency. – Vietnamnet

Tags: Diamond Blue, Vietnam Scooter market