On June 26, 2025, in Manila, Philippines, THACO AUTO and BJ Mercantile (BJM) officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for THACO Bus distribution cooperation, while delivering a fleet of THACO Cruizer 125 seat buses to Bicol Isarog.

THACO AUTO and BJM sign the bus distribution cooperation MOU

THACO Bus distribution in the Philippines

As part of its strategy to deeply participate in the global value chain, THACO AUTO is accelerating exports through partnerships with reputable regional partners. The signed MOU with BJM establishes the foundation for building long-term cooperative relationships between both parties, thereby promoting market research and development, establishing professional distribution and after-sales service systems to meet transportation demands in this market.

On the same day, both organizations jointly organized the THACO Cruizer bus launch ceremony, delivering a fleet of THACO Cruizer 125 buses to Bicol Isarog—a well-established transportation enterprise in the Philippines. Mr. Lai Thai Binh, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Vietnam to the Philippines, attended the program and congratulated the promising cooperative relationship between THACO AUTO and BJM, while highly appreciating the former's capability to master the value chain from product research and development, manufacturing, distribution to repair services and spare parts.

Mr. Doan Dat Ninh, THACO AUTO Vice President, stated: "For many years, alongside the Philippines market, THACO AUTO have exported our products to numerous countries including Thailand, Singapore, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, India, Kazakhstan, and others. In 2025, we will export 5,000 trucks, buses, and passenger vehicles, solidifying our position as a true automaker and further expanding our footprint on the global automotive map."

The THACO Cruizer 125 buses exported to the Philippines

Diverse products tailored to customer requirements

In the Philippines market, THACO AUTO distributes two main bus lines including seat buses and sleeper buses. The seat buses feature modern, convenient, and highly durable designs, offering from 29 to 47 seats. Especially, the VIP seat versions can provide from 20 to 29 seats, suitable for all types of transportation including tourism, urban transit, and shuttle services. The sleeper bus is designed for long-distance routes, with various options from 22 to 36 beds, customizable according to requirements of businesses and each market.

All products are developed by THACO AUTO's R&D team, manufactured at Vietnam's largest automotive center—THACO Chu Lai Industrial Park in Quang Nam which is equipped with modern technology, automated processes, and comprehensive digital management. The company's bus localization rate exceeds 70%, meeting international standards for technology, safety, and operational efficiency, while being tailored to specific requirements of each market.

Comprehensive after-sales services

THACO AUTO will establish a comprehensive after-sales system, including professional, responsive, and dedicated services, while implementing systematic technical training programs for operational and maintenance teams. The corporation will collaborate with BJ Mercantile to establish a spare parts supply chain in the Philippines, connecting with THACO's spare parts manufacturing facilities in Chu Lai, ensuring parts availability, reducing maintenance and repair time, and enhancing operational efficiency.

THACO AUTO Vice President Doan Dat Ninh stressed: "Moving forward, THACO AUTO will continue expanding the bus portfolio, accelerating distribution of THACO-branded trucks, while developing comprehensive and professional service systems to increase customer value and meet transportation demands in the Philippines market."

Mr. Doan Dat Ninh, THACO AUTO Vice President, speaking at the event

With its sustainable development strategy, THACO AUTO commits to continuously enhancing design and manufacturing capabilities, providing quality products and professional after-sales services, partnering with BJ Mercantile to promote the development of the bus transportation industry in the Philippines.

THACO AUTO and BJ Mercantile representatives