VW blocks Kei van sale over IP rights concerns

Volkswagen North America has stepped in and shut down a Cars&Bids auction dedicated to a 1998 Daihatsu Atrai microvan.

The management of the auction platform revealed that the automaker found itself in violation of intellectual property rights. The microvan was modified after sale by one of its subsequent owners, who outfitted it with a custom body kit inspired by early Volkswagen vans and painted the bodywork to match. They even put a big VW logo on the front end.

According to the auction holders, Volkswagen reasoned that this unauthorized replica could “hurt the image of the brand.”