BJ Mercantile Inc. (BJM), one of the country’s foremost conglomerates, has formally entered into a partnership with Vietnamese automotive leader THACO, marking a significant expansion of its commercial vehicle offerings. Through a newly signed Memorandum of Understanding, BJM becomes the official distributor for THACO’s trucks and buses in the Philippines, covering sales, service, and parts.
Established in 1974, BJ Mercantile has evolved from a modest importer of used engines and trucks into a diversified enterprise with interests in automotive, logistics, real estate, petroleum, cold storage, and marine transport. This latest collaboration strengthens BJM’s foothold in the commercial vehicle market, enhancing its ability to meet increasing local demand with a broader product lineup.
“We are honored to collaborate with THACO and bring their well-engineered, reliable commercial vehicles to Filipino businesses,” said Leilani Lim Tan, Vice President of BJM. “This partnership supports our goal of delivering transport solutions that are innovative, cost-effective, and dependable.”
THACO, founded in 1997, is a major force in Vietnam’s automotive sector and one of Southeast Asia’s largest manufacturers. Its advanced Chu Lai Truong Hai Industrial Complex is equipped to produce a wide range of vehicles including trucks, buses, and passenger cars. THACO’s commercial vehicles are designed with efficiency and durability in mind—built on trusted Chinese chassis platforms and engineered to perform under tropical conditions, making them well-suited to the Philippine environment.
The addition of THACO reinforces BJM’s growing automotive portfolio, which already includes global brands such as Scania, Ashok-Leyland, Fuso, and Hongqi.
