Tilleke & Gibbins successfully represented the Thai subsidiary of a major Japanese automaker on a number of claims related to allegedly defective airbags. In this case, a group of claimants argued that they were injured after airbags installed in vehicles manufactured by our client deployed with excessive force during collisions. As part of the complaint, the group attempted to claim damages and demand our client to initiate recalls of its vehicles in Thailand. Through our strong representation, all cases were tactically settled for a nominal amount.

If the case had gone to court, the client would have been prohibited from selling any cars fitted with the airbags in question until they were able prove that the airbags were safe. The impact of this would have been exceptionally high, as all sales across the country would have to be halted and existing vehicles sold with the fitted product, including every model of the company’s two most successful lines sold in the previous four years, would potentially have had to be recalled.