03/07/2008 21:22. A case brought by BMW AG against the importer of the Chinese-made Shuanghuan CEO, an SUV that closely resembles the first generation BMW X5, has ended with an order for sales to be stopped and all cars destroyed.

The court in Munich has told the importer, China Automobile, that it must also pay compensatory damages to BMW.

"We are pleased that the court has agreed with our views," a BMW spokesman said after the ruling, according to China Car Times .

Karl Schloessl of China Automobile Germany said, however, that he would appeal the decision, claiming that he would take the case to the European Court of Justice if necessary. Banning a vehicle that is legal elsewhere in the EU is unlawful, he stated, adding that there are now more than 1,000 CEOs in Italy, for example and that the first... // Automotive World