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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

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
April 23, 2026
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has introduced a new investment promotion measure to encourage partnerships between Thai and foreign automotive parts manufacturers. The measure, published in the Government Gazette on March 31, 2026, under Notification of the Board of Investment No. 5/2569 Re: Investment Promotion Measures for Joint Ventures between Thai and Foreign Companies in the Auto Parts Manufacturing Industry, aims to enhance local industry participation and create new business opportunities for Thai operators. Corporate Income Tax Exemption Under this measure, the BOI grants an additional corporate income tax (CIT) exemption of three years to both new investment projects and existing operators under the BOI’s business category 3.4 (manufacture of engines, equipment, or parts) or category 3.5 (manufacture of vehicle parts). If the CIT exemption period is added to an existing one, the total exemption period will be capped at a maximum of eight years. To benefit from the exemption, certain conditions must be met, as described below. Conditions for New Investment Projects The joint venture company must be newly established after January 15, 2026. At least 20% of the registered capital must be held by a Thai juristic person throughout the CIT exemption period. The Thai juristic person must have been operating in the automotive or auto parts industry for at least three years prior to the application date and must be at least 60%-owned by Thai individuals. Conditions for Existing BOI-Promoted Projects The company must have been wholly foreign-owned at the time the promotion certificate was issued. The shareholding structure must be amended following the issuance of the notification to establish a joint venture between a foreign juristic person and a Thai juristic person that has been operating in the automotive or auto parts industry for at least three years prior to the application date. This Thai
April 21, 2026
Thailand’s Board of Investment (BOI) has introduced special investment promotion measures to accelerate the development of advanced automotive manufacturing technologies and the transitional electric vehicle ecosystem. Published in the Government Gazette on March 31, 2026, BOI Notification No. 4/2569 aims to stimulate the use of automation and robotic systems to improve production efficiency and increase the competitive capacity of Thailand’s automotive industry. Qualifying Project Categories All existing and new investment projects under the following promotional categories are eligible to apply for the new privileges: General automotive manufacturing (category 3.6) Manufacture of plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) (category 3.8) Applications will be accepted until the end of 2027. Incentives and Benefits Eligible investment projects will receive exemption from import duties for machinery, and a 50% corporate income tax (CIT) exemption for three years on investment in automation and robotics systems, excluding land costs and working capital. If at least 30% of the total value of the modified or total machinery used is linked to or supports Thailand’s domestic automation machinery manufacturing industry, this CIT exemption will be increased to 100%. Eligible existing investment projects will be exempt from CIT on existing business income, with the exemption period counted from the date on which income is generated following receipt of the investment promotion certificate. Eligibility Conditions Projects must meet the following criteria to qualify for these privileges: The project must not currently benefit from CIT exemption. Those that have already received investment promotion may apply once their existing CIT exemption or reduction benefits have expired. The project must have an investment value of at least THB 1 million, excluding land cost and working capital but including expenditures for machinery, equipment, software, programs, information technology systems, and cloud or data center services, subject to conditions stipulated in
AWARDS & RANKINGS
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.
March 9, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted in multiple firmwide and individual categories at the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026, including Regional Firm of the Year, reflecting the firm’s work across Southeast Asia and the continued development of its regional practices. In the individual categories, Aye Thuzar Hlaing has been shortlisted for Myanmar Associate of the Year (Corporate and M&A), and Linh Duy Mai has been shortlisted for Vietnam Associate of the Year (Intellectual Property). Tilleke & Gibbins has also been shortlisted in the following firm categories: Regional Firm of the Year Thailand – Law Firm of the Year Thailand – Law Firm of the Year (Litigation) Myanmar – Law Firm of the Year Vietnam – Law Firm of the Year Vietnam – Law Firm of the Year (Labor and Employment) Laos – Law Firm of the Year The winners will be announced on April 30, 2026, at the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards ceremony in Singapore. To browse the full shortlist for the Legal 500 Southeast Asia Awards 2026, please see the Legal 500 website.
March 2, 2026
Tilleke & Gibbins has been shortlisted for two prestigious recognitions in the Chambers Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region Honours 2026. The firm received nominations for both Thailand Firm of the Year and Vietnam Firm of the Year. The Chambers Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region Honours recognize preeminent law firms demonstrating outstanding work, impressive strategic growth, and excellence in client service across the region. The Thailand nomination marks the firm’s sixth consecutive shortlisting and twelfth since 2010. For Vietnam, this is the third consecutive year the firm has been recognized. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in Hong Kong on May 28, 2026. To learn more about the Chambers Asia-Pacific and Greater China Region Honours 2026 and browse the full list of nominations, please visit the Chambers and Partners website.