Photo Source: Fengwo

Chinese turbocharger maker Ningbo Fengwo Turbocharger System Co., Ltd. (Fengwo) is facing two patent infringement lawsuits totaling RMB 56 million, filed by rival Garrett Motion (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of NASDAQ-listed Garrett Motion Inc., according to Fengwo's recent IPO prospectus.

The lawsuits were initiated since March 2025 at the Shanghai Intellectual Property Court and allege that Fengwo and its subsidiary Jiaxing Fengwo infringed on two of Garrett's Chinese patents: Patent ZL201810548510.0, titled "Turbocharger with Gas Flow Path and Liquid Flow Path", for which Garrett is claiming RMB 25 million in damages, and Patent ZL200910006885.5, titled "Turbocharger Assembly with Heat Shield Centering Configuration", with a compensation demand of RMB 31 million.

In response, Fengwo has filed invalidation requests with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) for both patents. The company also contested the jurisdiction of the  Shanghai Intellectual Property Court, but those objections were rejected. Fengwo has since appealed to the Supreme People's Court, where the jurisdictional review is currently under second-instance trial.

Fengwo's core business focuses on the development, manufacturing, and sales of turbochargers, primarily serving the automotive OEM market. The company is also expanding into electric turbochargers and air suspension system components. As of the prospectus date, Fengwo owns 87 patents, including 16 invention patents and 71 utility model patents.

Garrett, listed on the NASDAQ, is a global player in turbocharging technology with a 70-year history. It states that nearly all major global automakers utilize its technologies, with its systems installed in over 130 million vehicles worldwide. Garrett holds more than 1,300 patents, and BMW has been its largest customer over the past three years, contributing 12% of its annual revenue.

The lawsuits are part of a broader, ongoing dispute between the two companies. According to the prospectus, their legal conflict dates back to at least 2022, when Fengwo had successfully invalidated at least one Garrett patent. Garrett appealed that decision, and the case is currently under second-instance review by the Supreme People's Court.