Honda Motor Co. has sued three Chinese companies for infringing on its trademark, the official China Daily reported Tuesday.
The automaker is demanding more than 25 million yuan ($3 million) for alleged economic losses.
The first hearing was held Monday at the Beijing No. 2 Intermediate People's Court.
Honda reportedly claimed that motors produced by two motorcycle makers -- the Chongqing Lifan Industry (Group) Co. and the Chongqing Lifan Motor Factory -- carry the trademark "Hongda," which is "only slightly different" to and is easily mistaken for the more famous Japanese brand.
The third company, the Beijing Zili Ziqiang Motor Shop, is a motor retailer.
A lawyer representing the Chongqing Lifan Industry (Group) reportedly denied that the company has produced motors with the Hongda symbol.
The China Daily quoted sources as saying that the Chongqing Lifan Industry (Group) and the Chongqing Lifan Motor Factory, which was absent from the hearing, are independent of each other.