Shopee Thailand System Upgrade on May 18, Thailand's New Advertising Law, Toyota India Plant, India Crackdown on Chinese Firms

Shopee Thailand Announces Critical System Upgrade on May 18

Shopee Thailand has issued an urgent notice regarding a system upgrade scheduled for May 18, 2026, lasting the entire day. To ensure a smooth transition, the platform requires all affected sellers to complete adjustments for their self-managed promotional activities before May 18. Failure to do so may result in abnormal display of post-tax product prices, with any resulting losses borne by the seller. Key actions include:

• Stopping all platform-wide activity nominations (including Shopee real-time bidding)
• Manually canceling in-store flash sales and real-time bidding campaigns effective on or after May 18
• Removing promotional pricing from live streams or videos

Sellers should act promptly to avoid financial penalties.

Thailand's New Advertising Law: Mandatory ID Verification from November

Thailand's "Prevention of Technology-Related Crimes Measures (Version 2)" will take effect in early November 2026, mandating compulsory identity verification for all advertising placements. Advertisers targeting Thai users must complete identity authentication before each ad run, with records retained for at least 90 days. Overseas advertisers must also comply with local authentication rules. Aimed at cracking down on cross-border ad fraud and cleaning up the advertising environment, the regulation requires overseas sellers to complete compliance preparations in advance to ensure uninterrupted ad campaigns in the Thai market.

Toyota Plans New India Plant, Set for Production by Early 2029

Toyota has officially announced plans for a new factory in India, with production expected to commence in the first half of 2029. The move is part of Toyota's long-term strategy to deepen its presence in the Indian market, solidify its market share, and strengthen its industrial position. With steadily rising automotive demand in India, the new plant will enhance local production and supply chain capabilities, better aligning with regional sales needs. This investment lays a foundation for future sales growth and localized development, signaling confidence in India's long-term economic potential.

India Intensifies Crackdown on Chinese Firms, Market Risks Soar

Multiple Indian government departments have conducted surprise raids on Chinese companies in India, freezing accounts and disrupting business operations. Authorities have also banned and replaced a large number of Chinese-made surveillance equipment, prohibiting related brands from entering the market. Over the past few years, more than 300 Chinese firms have been investigated, with funds frozen and penalties exceeding 10 billion yuan. In Q1 2026, Chinese manufacturing investment in India plummeted by 37.2% year-on-year. Industry experts advise businesses to be vigilant about tax, contract, and financial risks, and to accelerate diversification into other markets to mitigate exposure.