The Antelope Valley Times

Your community. Your issues. Your news.

BYD sues LA County mask makers

by •

[Image via BYD]
LOS ANGELES – Chinese automaker BYD, which contracted with California to supply millions of N95 respirator masks to help combat the coronavirus pandemic, is suing several Los Angeles County businessmen it alleges are selling counterfeit masks.

“We want to stop the exploitation of consumers during the coronavirus global pandemic,” BYD President Stella Li said in a statement released by the company.

“Tragically, these inferior counterfeit and often defective masks are being distributed to doctors, nurses, first responders, exposing these heroes to increased risk of infection,” Li said. “These counterfeit masks have not gone through the rigorous quality-control and regulatory approval process associated with masks manufactured by BYD. The consequences can be very bad.”

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Los Angeles County late Monday, alleges false advertising, false designation of origin, trademark dilution and unfair competition and trademark infringement.

Businessmen Alexander Khazai, Aaron Arredondo, James Vaughn and Roberto Banke, along with the company Dripstone LLC, are named as defendants.

BYD, which is seeking unspecified damages, pledges to donate any money awarded from the lawsuit to COVID-19 relief efforts, according to the company’s statement.

The complaint alleges the defendants are manufacturing and distributing the inferior masks to doctors, nurses and first responders under the BYD trademark, and their use can cause exposure to increased risk of infection.

BYD — which stands for “Build Your Dreams” — was initially known for renewable energy and electric cars. The company has a manufacturing plant in Lancaster. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, BYD devoted its resources to manufacturing respiratory masks and other health care and medical devices to address the severe shortage faced by countries worldwide.

BYD formed a subsidiary to sell the medical products in North America, and began working with state and local governments, including California, to supply hospitals and first responders with respiratory masks.

BYD says it is now the single largest manufacturer of respiratory masks in the world, manufacturing 50 million per day. BYD sells the products under their “BYD” and “BYD Care” trademarks.

–

22 comments for "BYD sues LA County mask makers"

  1. Accountability issues, little problem with mendacity, ever notice with the communist Chinese, how nothing could ever be their fault? How everything is always somebody elses’ fault?

    • We have that same problem here.
      Not my fault the car crashed while I was looking at my phone while seated behind the wheel.
      Not my fault the fire started after I launched fireworks and embers hit the dry brush.
      Not my fault Covid-19 is resurging, I just hate wearing masks they make me look stupid or weak.
      Not my fault I misread this article and did not realize BYD is suing to protect their reputation (in regards to counterfeit masks)

  3. Highly believable we have so many cooked people in LA . Corious what the verdict will be..

  5. Can we please use American tax dollars to purchase American made products by American owned companies? They make masks in Arizona. Arizona>Communist China

    • WE purchase every one they can make. BYD is helping meet uncommon demand, and we are still short

    • The United States has been the bully of the planet for so long….soon, it will get its azz kick again; just like in Vietnam.

      • The US has spread freedom and prosperity to more people in this world than anyone in human history.

        So GTFOH. We won’t miss you. Go to red China.

        • Trumpist: You freely practice your First Amendment rights, and so does everyone that posts, including Johnny Stewart. So he does not have to get out, and go to red China. Also, don’t include me in your “we.” Although burning the American flag is not my style, people have the right under the First Amendment (symbolic speech) to do so. Study up on the Constitution and what the Supreme Court has to say, then pass the information on to your namesake.

          • I didn’t say he HAD to go. But WE would be much better off if he took you with him, lol.

          • Hey, you remind me of our resident constipated moralizing scold dominatrix named Alexis. That’s not a compliment, lol. That homeless junkie felon told us not to worry about COVID because it was no worse than the flu. You seem like a virtue-signalling know-it-all just like he/she/it, but are afraid to use your old screen name, aren’t you? I love you too!

          • Trumpist—Dude, I hope you don’t have a family. All the sick stuff you post would be passed on to anyone around you.

  7. There are actually people left that believe what the Chinese say?
    Half a Million are dead.

    • Rex loves Communist China. He brought a Communist Chinese company here, on the front porch of our country’s most sensitive defense contractors. He even tried to set up Communist Chinese birth tourism.

      Rex is no friend of this country.

      • P F C’s Tea House in Palmdale was a wonderful place to go for excellent Chinese food. We went there for decades, but sadly they closed after 60 years.