GM files second patent lawsuit against LKQ, Keystone

With a pending lawsuit filed against it by LKQ and Keystone Automotive Industries claiming patent infringement, General Motors has filed suit against the parts companies for the same cause.

GM’s new suit claims 20 of its patents for Chevrolet Colorado, Traverse, Silverado, and Malibu, and GMC Sierra vehicles, as well as their GM Genuine replacement parts, have been infringed upon.

CCC Intelligent Solutions, Grand HC Auto Tooling Corp., Gordon Auto Body Parts Co., Tong Yang Industry Co., Y.C.C. Parts Mfg. Co., DEPO Auto Parts Ind. Co., Maxzone Vehicle Lighting Corp., Auto Power Co., Forerunner Automotive Industrial Corp., Antrc Industrial Corp., and Pro Fortune Industrial Co. are also listed as defendants.

LKQ and Keystone sued GM in November 2021, stating that it does not infringe two of GM’s fender design patents. GM countersued, alleging that LKQ had infringed the at-issue patents.

In July 2025, the case moved forward with rulings on patentability, obviousness, and invalidity.

GM argued that its patent design was obvious — essentially that the idea behind it wasn’t already familiar to experts and the general public and, as a result, should be protected as intellectual property.

In the new suit, GM alleges that CCC Intelligent Solutions is infringing on 20 patents, while LKQ is infringing on six Grand HC on five, Auto Power on two, Pro Fortune on three, Tong Yang on three, Gordon on five, DEPO on two, Forerunner on two, and Antrc on two.

“The accused products are intended and designed to be substitutable with GM Genuine Parts and are intended to be copies of GM Genuine Parts,” the suit states. “Defendants’ collective business is premised on offering replacement parts that match the ornamental appearance of genuine OEM components, including those of GM.

“Defendants directly infringe because, in the eye of an ordinary observer, giving such attention as a purchaser usually gives, the design of the accused products is substantially the same as the designs embodied in the asserted patents, and the resemblance is such as to deceive
such an observer, inducing him or her to purchase the accused products.”

GM claims the defendants infringe on the patents by:

• • LKQ: “Encouraging repair shops and end users to directly infringe the asserted patents by importing, selling, offering to sell, and/or using the accused products;
  • CCC: “Providing software that connects repair shops with distributors (such as LKQ), to import, use, sell, and/or offer to sell the accused products in the United States; and
  • Manufacturing defendants: “Providing the accused products to distributors (such as LKQ) to import, use, sell, and/or offer to sell the accused products in the United States… Multiple manufacturer defendants have sought and obtained certification for the
    accused products from the Certified Automotive Parts Association (CAPA), which further shows infringement… CAPA specifically offers certification for said parts [in] the United States.”

The suit claims the parts designed, manufactured, and/or sold by the defendants are substantially similar in design to GM’s patented parts.

GM seeks to recover treble damages; damages under U.S.C. § 289, or at the least, a reasonable royalty; all taxable costs of court; all pre- and post-judgment interest on the damages award; attorney fees; and applicable expenses.

A jury trial is also demanded by GM.

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