BMW Loses Trademark Case Against BYD Over M6 Name in Indonesia
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JAKARTA, Investortrust.id — German automaker BMW has lost its trademark dispute against Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD in Indonesia, after a Jakarta court ruled that BYD may continue using the name "BYD M6" for its multipurpose vehicle (MPV).
In a decision handed down on Wednesday, June 25, 2025, the Central Jakarta Commercial Court rejected BMW’s claims and dismissed the case, ordering BMW to pay Rp 1,070,000 ($65) in court fees. The three-judge panel, led by Dariyanto, S.H., M.H., ruled that BMW’s suit could not be accepted in its entirety.
BMW had argued that BYD’s use of the M6 label infringed on its trademark rights, citing a registration with the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DJKI) under number IDM000578653 for use in Class 12, which covers motor vehicles. The company sought to prohibit BYD from marketing the MPV under that name and demanded that all related vehicles be handed over.
Visitors observe the BYD M6, a multi-purpose electric vehicle, at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2024 in ICE BSD, Tangerang, Banten, on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
BYD’s legal counsel countered that the claim was vague and premature, stressing that the model is always marketed under the full label "BYD M6" and accompanied by the company’s branding—never as “M6” in isolation.
The court sided with BYD, stating that the inclusion of the brand name “BYD” served as a distinguishing feature from BMW’s “M6,” which is primarily associated with its high-performance luxury sedans. The judges also took into account that BYD’s model is a family-oriented MPV, unlike BMW’s sportier coupe variant.
The Handout photo shows the 2015-released New BMW M6 Coupe Competition Package. Photo: Courtesy of BMW
Adding weight to BYD’s case, the court acknowledged that its trademark application for the "BYD M6" was undergoing substantive examination with DJKI under filing number DID2024122107, reinforcing its legal claim to the name.
BMW’s demand that the ruling be enforceable regardless of further appeals—including potential cassation at the Supreme Court—was also rejected.
The ruling clears the path for BYD to further expand its presence in Indonesia’s competitive MPV segment. According to the Indonesian Automotive Industry Association (Gaikindo), the BYD M6 has sold 1,672 units since its launch earlier this year, with sales steadily rising.