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Automotive

Automotive

Key Contacts

Cambodia

Indonesia

Laos

Myanmar

Thailand

Vietnam

OVERVIEW

Driving growth across Southeast Asia for leading players in the global automotive industry.

Tilleke & Gibbins acts for clients across the automotive value chain, from upstream automotive and automotive parts manufacturers to downstream automotive distribution and sales dealerships, offering a one-stop service for a full range of legal matters in Southeast Asia.

At the start, our multidisciplinary team helps automotive industry players structure and implement market entry models, including assisting with M&A transactions and joint ventures, obtaining licenses and investment incentives, and protecting valuable designs, patents, and trademarks. For manufacturers, we also regularly assist with land acquisition and factory construction in industrial estates and special economic zones. Once companies are set up and operating, we continue to work closely with our clients to maintain regulatory compliance across the region, advising on antitrust and trade competition, employment, import and export, tax, and other general corporate matters. And when complications occur, we also represent automotive clients in dispute resolution, including commercial and IP litigation, product liability claims, and class actions.

Our full-service legal expertise enables clients to capitalize on opportunities for success in the region, driving growth across Southeast Asia for leading players in the global automotive industry.

Experience

  • Advised Volvo Group on the Thai elements of its global strategic alliance with Isuzu Motors in respect of commercial vehicles, which included Isuzu Motor’s JPY 243 billion acquisition of Volvo Group’s UD Trucks.
  • Retained to assist a European automotive manufacturer with a full range of matters relating to its operations in Thailand, including assisting with the acquisition of land and construction of a factory, obtaining licenses from the Thai Board of Investment (BOI) and other government agencies, and advising on tax matters.
  • Engaged to assist an automotive parts manufacturer with the establishment of a subsidiary and factory in Vietnam to produce and export automotive safety products. Among other things, we assisted the client with company formation, negotiating and reviewing land documents/agreements, meeting with local authorities, and preparing and applying for the Investment Registration Certificate and Enterprise Registration Certificate.
  • Assisted an American multinational automotive manufacturing company with the sale of its two manufacturing plants in Thailand following the winding down of its local operations.
  • Retained by a world-leading EV company to provide ongoing legal advice in connection with its entrance and ongoing operations in the Thai market. Our team handled a full range of legal work for the client, including company establishment, obtaining benefits under the Thailand-U.S. Treaty of Amity, advising on obtaining licenses and incentives from the Thai BOI, applying for a direct marketing license, preparing a land and building lease agreement, and reviewing and localizing more than 10 commercial contracts for its local operations.
  • Retained by numerous world-leading multinational automotive companies to assist with the prosecution and enforcement of designs, patents, and trademarks across Southeast Asia.
  • Advised a British multinational automotive company on the proposed offering of eSim-based solutions in vehicles sold in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, including extensive advice on permanent establishment risks.
  • Successfully represented a German automotive manufacturer of luxury vehicles in a rare cross-class trademark opposition against an application for the protection of a mark that was confusingly similar to our client’s mark in a different class.
  • Obtained judgments in favor of an American automaker against seven product liability claims made by plaintiffs in Thailand. Owing to our arguments and evidence, the court ruled that the vehicles were safe products under the Product Liability Act.
  • Advised a well-known EV manufacturer on the most appropriate business model for entering the Vietnam market, including advice on issues related to renewable energy generation and storage.
  • Retained to assist a Japanese multinational automotive group in reviewing and amending its template distribution agreement, which forms the basis for the distribution framework with its local partner in Laos.
  • Successfully represented a European luxury car manufacturer in bringing a civil suit against an unaffiliated Thai secondhand car dealer for unauthorized use of our client’s trade name, trademark, and service mark.
  • Advised a German auto parts manufacturer on various financing options for the possible acquisition, via a holding company, of a Vietnamese target company, including advice on Vietnamese regulatory requirements on the transfer of funds for operational financing via shareholder loans or cash pooling.
  • Successfully represented BMW in a domain name dispute case against a Vietnamese individual who had registered three domain names incorporating our client’s well-known “BMW” trademark. Our argument led the HCMC Court to order the cyber squatter to surrender the domain names to our client and pay legal fees.
  • Represented a Japanese automotive manufacturer in defense against a product liability claim concerning an airbag that failed to deploy. Due to our representation, the claim was settled in favor of our client in court and the client was not required to initiate a product recall.

PROFESSIONALS

RELATED INSIGHTS

July 21, 2026
On July 6, 2026, Myanmar’s Ministry of Finance and Revenue introduced revised procedures governing the importation and exportation of goods and vehicles, replacing the framework that had been in place since 2017. The revised procedures were introduced in Notification No. 115/2026, which establishes updated compliance requirements and penalties for importers and exporters, covering licensing, declarations, product specifications, prior arrival of goods, and imports or exports made without the required licenses or permits. Scope Unlike its predecessor (Notification No. 6/2017), which focused primarily on import-related noncompliance, the new notification regulates both import and export activities and introduces a separate penalty schedule for export violations. Exporters are now required to ensure that their exports comply with the approvals stated in export licenses and permits, match the information declared in export declarations, and are supported by the required licenses, permits, and accompanying documents. Import Compliance and Penalties The new notification imposes several compliance requirements on importers. Importers must ensure that the country of origin, branding, labeling, and other product information are consistent with the relevant import license or permit, import declaration, and the imported goods. For vehicles and machinery, the model year must match the year approved by the Ministry of Commerce. Importers must also ensure that goods are not imported before the issuance or after the expiry of the import license or permit, and that the imported quantity does not exceed the approved amount. Failure to comply with these requirements may result in regulatory action. As for the notification’s revised penalties for noncompliance with import licensing requirements, imports made without the required import license, permit, or import declaration may be subject to fines ranging from one to three times the assessable value (AV) of the goods, depending on the category of goods involved. Certain vehicles and machinery, as well as specific
June 29, 2026
Thailand’s cabinet has approved the draft Act on Liability for Defective Goods, commonly called Thailand’s “Lemon Law.” The Draft Act is currently pending consideration by Parliament. The draft law aims to strengthen buyers’ position in pursuing cases against sellers. While the Civil and Commercial Code offers provisions governing liability for defective goods, it is difficult in practice for buyers to successfully make a claim against sellers, particularly where defects are latent and not discoverable at the time of sale or delivery. By introducing product-specific rules and clearer remedies, the new law is intended to modernize Thailand’s consumer protection framework and align it more closely with international standards, and to help relieve the buyer’s burden of proof against the seller in product liability cases. If enacted, the draft act will take effect 180 days after publication in the Government Gazette, giving businesses a transition period to assess their compliance obligations. This article provides an overview of the key provisions of the draft act and highlights some practical considerations for businesses operating in Thailand. Scope and Key Definitions The draft act applies to sellers—defined as persons who sell goods in the ordinary course of business—and protects buyers, a term defined broadly to include not just the original purchaser but also transferees and successors in title. This expands the class of people who can bring claims. The law does not apply to used goods, live animals, or goods exempted by future ministerial regulation. It also leaves intact any separate warranties, promises, advertisements, or other guarantees a seller has given; those remain enforceable alongside the new statutory rights. General Liability for Defective Goods Sellers are liable for defects that exist at the time of delivery, regardless of whether the seller knew about them. Liability arises where a defect reduces: The benefit intended under
June 23, 2026
On May 26, 2026, Thailand’s Department of Land Transport (DLT) published for public consultation a draft amendment to the Ministerial Regulation on Electronic Ride-Hailing Vehicles that would, for the first time, allow juristic persons (legal entities) to register vehicles as electronic ride-hailing cars—a right that currently belongs exclusively to natural persons, limited to one person per one vehicle. If finalized in its current form, the regulation would significantly expand the supply side of Thailand’s ride-hailing market by enabling corporate fleet operators to enter the space. The public comment period is open through June 24, 2026. Key Principles Under the Draft Regulation Under the proposed amendment, juristic persons that maintain a fleet of at least 50 vehicles will be permitted to register vehicles as electronic ride-hailing cars. This represents a fundamental shift from the current framework, which restricts registration to individual natural persons on a one-person-one-car basis. Vehicle Specifications Corporate-owned ride-hailing vehicles must meet the following requirements: Be brand new from the factory, or no more than two years old from first registration with no more than 20,000 km of use. Not be a vehicle that has been reconstructed or repaired after involvement in a serious accident affecting safety—a standard consistent with public transport vehicles (RorYor. 6). Be classified as small, medium, or large in accordance with ministerial or director-general specifications. The vehicles may be equipped with safety devices such as interior or exterior cameras (video/photo recording) and can retain the original factory color of the vehicle body (no mandatory color change is required). License Plates Corporate ride-hailing vehicles will use license plates of the same size, characteristics, and color as those for private passenger vehicles not exceeding seven seats (RorYor. 1), rather than public transport plates. Potential Impact The government has stated that the regulation is intended to: Promote
May 13, 2026
Thailand has prescribed more stringent labeling specifications for traditional and electric vehicles (EVs), requiring manufacturers and importers for sale to display clear, accurate product information on vehicle labels. The requirements, which took effect on March 21, 2026, are set out in a notification issued under Thailand’s consumer protection framework. Background and Scope Under Thailand’s Consumer Protection Act (CPA), products manufactured for sale or imported into Thailand must generally comply with the CPA’s broad labeling requirements, unless the Label Committee prescribes more specific and stringent requirements for certain products. Accordingly, prior to the issuance of this notification, traditional autos and EVs were subject only to the general labeling requirements. Following the issuance of this Label Committee notification, traditional autos and EVs are now for the first time specifically subject to a dedicated regulatory framework for labeling. The requirements apply to private passenger vehicles and private trucks that have not yet been registered, including those powered by an internal combustion engine, electric power, or a combination of both. Label Requirements Labels must be displayed in Thai or with a Thai translation, and must be clearly visible and legible. Text must be proportional to the label area, with a minimum character height of 2 millimeters. All covered vehicles must display the following: Product name, trade name, or trademark Brand and model Manufacturer or importer information Size, weight, and load-bearing capacity Warranty conditions Drive system, usage instructions, and safety precautions Manufacturing date Price Additional Requirements for EVs EVs must also display the following: Type of electric vehicle (e.g., HEV, PHEV, BEV, or FCEV) Maximum electric motor power and rated continuous output power Battery type and capacity Battery warranty conditions or a clear statement that no warranty is provided Estimated driving range per full battery charge Electrical system safety standard Electricity consumption rate These
AWARDS & RANKINGS
May 11, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has continued to show excellent performance in the recently released Benchmark Litigation 2026 rankings for dispute resolution firms in the Asia-Pacific region. The rankings include two jurisdictions where Tilleke & Gibbins is active: Thailand and Vietnam. Firm Rankings A full summary of the firm’s rankings is provided below: Thailand Commercial & Transactions – Tier 1 Government & Regulatory – Tier 1 Labor & Employment – Tier 1 Intellectual Property – Tier 1 Trade & Customs – Tier 2 Vietnam Commercial & Transactions (Foreign Firms) – Tier 1 Intellectual Property (Foreign Firms) – Tier 1 Labor & Employment (International Firms) – Highly Recommended (top tier awarded in this category) White Collar Crime – Recommended (top tier awarded in this category) Energy & Construction (Foreign Firms) – Tier 2 International Arbitration – Tier 2 Individual Rankings The 2026 edition also recognizes 12 Tilleke & Gibbins lawyers in Thailand—more than any other firm in the jurisdiction—and four in Vietnam. Thailand Alongkorn Tongmee – Trade & Customs Chitchai Punsan – Commercial & Transactions Chusert Supasitthumrong – Labor & Employment John Frangos – Commercial & Transactions Noppramart Thammateeradaycho – Shipping Nuttaphol Arammuang – Intellectual Property Piyawat Vitooraporn – Commercial & Transactions Pongpalin Chantrapirom – Commercial & Transactions Suebsiri Taweepon – Intellectual Property Suruswadee Jaimsuwan – Commercial & Transactions Thawat Damsa-ard – Commercial & Transactions Tiziana Sucharitkul – Commercial & Transactions, Government & Regulatory Vietnam Duc Anh Tran – Commercial & Transactions Linh Duy Mai – Intellectual Property Loc Xuan Le – Intellectual Property Tu Anh Tran – Commercial & Transactions Benchmark Litigation’s annual research is based on interviews with dispute resolution specialists and clients, as well as analysis of recent casework and market developments. To view the full results, please visit the Benchmark Litigation websites for Thailand and Vietnam.
March 19, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been recognized in 17 categories at the 2026 Thailand Law Firm Awards from Asia Business Law Journal (ABLJ), up from 10 categories in 2025. The awards highlight leading law firms in Thailand across a broad range of practice areas, as well as overall firm performance. This year, Tilleke & Gibbins was named a co-winner in the Best Overall Law Firm category as well as in the following practice-specific categories: Artificial Intelligence Aviation Blockchain & Digital Assets Competition & Antitrust Data Compliance & Cyber Security E-Commerce, Digital Trade & Platform Regulation ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) Fintech Healthcare & Life Sciences Insurance & Reinsurance IP Litigation IP Prosecution Labour & Employment Private Equity & Venture Capital Shipping & Maritime Technology, Media & Telecommunications The awards are determined through ABLJ’s independent research, which considers recent work, client feedback, and market standing. The annual Thailand Law Firm Awards recognize firms demonstrating strong performance and breadth of expertise across key practice areas. For more details and the full list of winners, please visit the ABLJ website.