THE Great Wall Motor Co, China's largest maker of sports utility vehicles, said yesterday that a local court had dismissed a claim that it had copied a Fiat model, contradicting an earlier ruling by an Italian court.

Great Wall's GWPeri contains 'remarkable differences' on the front view, left view and right view from Fiat's patent, the Shijiazhuang Intermediate People's Court said in a ruling last Monday, according to a statement filed to the Hong Kong Stock Exchange by the Chinese auto maker. Fiat was ordered to pay 8,800 yuan (US$1,300) in costs, Bloomberg News said.

Earlier this month, Fiat won a ruling in Turin, its home town, banning Great Wall from selling the GWPeri in Europe because of similarities to its Panda.

Foreign auto makers are taking legal steps to defend patents as Chinese rivals look to boost sales by expanding overseas.