In a case that will likely be played out more than once in the near future, a court has ruled that Chinese automaker Shuanghuan may not sell its CEO SUV in Germany. The ban stems from the vehicle’s uncanny resemblance to the BMW X5, and imitation that the German automaker finds less than flattering.

The Munich court ruled that the Shuanghuan SUV too closely resembles the BMW X5, and that the Chinese company is infringing on BMW’s design rights. BMW started legal proceedings last September to stop CEO sales.

China Automobile Deutschland is the German importer for Shauanghuan and the company’s managing director, Karl Schloessl has called the CEO a totally different car than the X5. Schloessl called out similarities between some German vehicles saying, "Even when you look at some BMWs and some Audis, there are similarities.”

While the two SUVs clearly have some similarities, Schloessl’s point of the German courts looking out for their hometown automakers is well-taken. “'It is a one-sided judgment,” he said, “but of course it was made in Munich. It's a BMW city."

+ Automotive News: Court bans German sales of China-built SUV