Ford Motor Company is finally challenging Chinese automotive marque Lynk & CO, a property of Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, for having a name that sounds perhaps a bit too much like “Lincoln Co.” The American automaker is challenging the Chinese company’s trademark application for the “Lynk & CO” name, according to Automotive News, and was granted an extension by the US Patent & Trademark Office to mount a formal opposition to the name. Ford now has until November 15th to file its opposition.
Geely Holding Group is planning to use the “Lynk & CO” brand, formed in 2016, to sell a range of small, technology-focused vehicles that slot in between Geely’s basic namesake brand and premium car marque Volvo – a Swedish automaker that Geely acquired from Ford in 2010. The very work “Lynk” is meant to evoke the idea of connectivity. Planned future models include the 01 crossover and 03 sedan.
“The Lincoln brand has a rich 100-year history and we intend to protect its reputation,” one Lincoln spokesperson told Automotive News via email. “Lynk & CO is infringing on the Lincoln… trademark and we are taking legal actions to prevent them from using their infringing mark. Their name as it stands will confuse customers.”
Comment
Must remember to trademark my Scandinavian car company “Fjord”.