Mercedes Replicas: A Closer Look at the Chinese Knockoffs

In recent years, the trend of copying designs from Chinese cars has cooled down significantly. However, this only holds true for established brands. For new brands looking to make an immediate impact, design replication is still a popular method. Mecides (edited from Mercedes) is one of the most prominent examples.

Mecides has replicated not one, but two models in its international lineup. More precisely, the brand has replicated… the entire lineup with models borrowed from various segments.

Luxury/Super Luxury Cars

Mecides boasts a lineup of Bugatti replicas, most notably through the horseshoe grille at the front of the car. For example, the Mecides MBJD high-riding SUV takes its “inspiration” from the 2009 Bugatti 16C Galibier Concept, from the grille to the headlamps.

In addition to the French luxury brand, Mecides also pays homage to other brands in the market. Porsche (Cayenne, Macan, 911), Aston Martin (DBX), Maserati (Grecale), and Land Rover (Range Rover Sport) have all been “visited” by Mecides.

SUVs and Pick-up Trucks

Aside from luxury cars, Mecides also pays great attention to off-road vehicles, just like any other brand in the current market. Their lineup includes SUVs that replicate the Ford Bronco mid-size SUV and the G-Class… in a miniature size comparable to the Suzuki Jimny.

In the pick-up truck segment, Ram 1500 and Toyota Tundra in North America unexpectedly have their unrelated duplicates from China, capable of operating strictly as… toys.

Even Chinese cars themselves haven’t been spared from Mecides’ replication. Jetour, Tank, Dongfeng, Wuling, Hongguang (Mini EV), BYD (Dolphin), these are some of the fellow domestic victims of this brand.

Mass-Market Cars

The model that Mecides has replicated most faithfully in this category is the Mini Countryman John Cooper Works, despite being the same size as its sibling Cooper. The list includes replicas of modern vehicles like the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Smart #1. These replicas even go as far as being fully electric, just like their original counterparts, even though their specifications could be described as barely there.

Specifications

In most cases, Mecides vehicles use a single motor delivering 13 horsepower and 8 Nm of torque. In the case of their electric models, the power output is doubled to 26 horsepower and the torque is raised to an impressive 140 Nm. With a weight of around 700 kg per vehicle, the sluggishness of each car is palpable before even getting behind the wheel.

Thanks to their not-so-low specifications, Mecides cars perform quite well. The brand claims each product in their lineup can travel from 300 to 800 km on a 26 kWh battery.

The prices of Mecides vehicles are not publicly available, but the brand always welcomes new orders.

Photos: Carscoops