In September 2024, when Gensol Electric Vehicles filed a lawsuit against Mahindra, accusing the company of infringing its trademark ‘eZio.’ Gensol, which plans to launch a vehicle under this name in 2025, argued that Mahindra’s EV, named ‘eZEO,’ would mislead the public and cause confusion in the market.
NEW DELHI: The Delhi High Court on Monday (13th Jan) refused to grant an interim injunction to Gensol Electric Vehicles, which had sought to stop Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited from selling its newly launched electric vehicle (EV), ‘eZEO.’
This case after a trademark dispute, where Gensol claims ownership of the mark ‘eZio’ and argues that Mahindra’s use of a similar name, ‘eZEO,’ could confuse the public.
Justice Amit Bansal, while hearing the matter, dismissed Gensol’s application for interim relief. The Court stated,
“The applicant (Gensol) has failed to make a case for interim injunction. The application is dismissed.”
Background
In September 2024, when Gensol Electric Vehicles filed a lawsuit against Mahindra, accusing the company of infringing its trademark ‘eZio.’ Gensol, which plans to launch a vehicle under this name in 2025, argued that Mahindra’s EV, named ‘eZEO,’ would mislead the public and cause confusion in the market.
In October 2024, Gensol sought an immediate court order to prevent Mahindra from selling vehicles under the ‘eZEO’ name. However, Mahindra argued that it had already publicly announced its launch date and had been selling vehicles under the ‘eZEO‘ trademark, making Gensol’s request untimely.
After hearing both sides, the Court ruled that Gensol had not presented enough grounds for granting an interim injunction at this stage.
“In these circumstances, I am of the view that the defendant (Mahindra) has to be given an opportunity to file a reply before considering the grant of any interim injunction. Hence, I am not inclined to grant an ad interim injunction order at this stage,”
the Court noted.
Gensol Electric Vehicles had secured a trademark registration for ‘eZio’ under Class 12, which covers vehicles and parts, including engines, motors, and electric, hydrogen, and diesel-powered vehicles. Gensol plans to launch its first compact electric vehicle, also named ‘Ezio,’ at the Bharat Mobility Global Expo 2025, which will be held from January 17 to January 22, 2025, in New Delhi.
The Ezio is a two-door, two-seater EV designed for urban commuting, offering a top speed of 80 km/h and a range of up to 200 km on a full charge.
Meanwhile, Mahindra had applied for registration of the ‘eZEO‘ mark in the same class in September 2024. However, the application is still pending before the Registrar of Trademarks.
The Court has ordered Mahindra to submit a detailed response to Gensol’s claims within ten days. This will allow the Court to consider the matter thoroughly before making any further decisions regarding the interim injunction.
Gensol was represented by Senior Advocate Chander M Lall, along with Advocates Swapnil Gaur, Annanya Mehan, and Abhinav. They argued that Mahindra’s use of a similar name would likely lead to confusion among consumers and damage Gensol’s brand.
On the other hand, Mahindra was represented by Senior Advocates Rajiv Nayar and Akhil Sibal, with Advocates Ankur Sangal, Smriti Yadav, Sucheta Roy, Amrit Sharma, Ridhie Bajaj, and Sarah Haque. Mahindra’s defense emphasized that the launch of the ‘eZEO’ was already publicly announced, and they had been using the trademark for some time without issue.
Mahindra’s eZEO is a small commercial electric vehicle designed for last-mile delivery and urban transportation. It features high-voltage architecture, offering longer range and faster charging times. The vehicle also comes with advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) for enhanced safety. This EV is aimed at the growing demand for clean and efficient transportation solutions in urban areas.
[ Case Title: Gensol EV Vs Mahindra Last Mile Mobility Limited].
