Automotive and Mobility

The automotive and mobility sector is rapidly transforming. We help steer clients through all legal challenges to their commercial advantage.

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Automotive and Mobility

The automotive and mobility sector is rapidly transforming. We help steer clients through all legal challenges to their commercial advantage.

Subscribe to receive our insights.

Global original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, technology companies, start-ups, mobility platforms, and financing partners, turn to us as a leading automotive and mobility-focused law firm. We design tailored solutions that transform legal uncertainties into strategic opportunities.

Supported by a cross-disciplinary team, we offer a full-service approach that brings exceptional depth and scale to the table. From regulatory and intellectual property strategies to large transactions, complex litigation and high-stakes class actions, and public policy matters, we help clients manage compliance, secure approvals, and mitigate risk. Whether advising on supply chain resilience, sustainability matters, or the development of next-generation vehicle technologies, we deliver practical solutions aligned with commercial goals.

This support is especially critical as the automotive and mobility sector undergoes rapid transformation, driven by electrification, automation, and software innovation. From autonomous vehicles and new energy platforms to evolving digital ecosystems, innovation is reshaping how people and goods move. At the same time, expansive regulations such as the European Union (EU) Data Act, Cyber Resilience Act, and emerging artificial intelligence (AI) rules, are redefining compliance expectations and creating complex challenges around data governance, liability, and cross-border approvals. Combined with supply chain disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, and sustainability demands, companies must act decisively to stay ahead.

We provide clear, forward-looking legal advice aligned with our clients’ commercial ambitions. With our global footprint and proactive counsel, we help ensure that legal clarity becomes the foundation for tomorrow’s mobility success.

Our capabilities at a glance

400

Automotive and Mobility lawyers around the world.

Hear from our clients and industry leaders

Hogan Lovells is a top player in major auto industry legal work."

Chambers 2025, Transportation: Road (Automotive)

The breadth and depth of its expertise makes the firm stand out above other firms. The firm also has deep relationships within government and the regulator."

Legal 500, Transport: Rail and Road – Litigation and regulation

Our business is very unique and requires a lot of flexible thinking and boundary pushing, especially with regulatory bodies. The team we work with at HL acts as a true partner and always looks out for the best interests of our business, both in a present and future sense […]."

Legal 500, Transport: Rail and Road – Litigation and regulation (Client quote)

Hogan Lovells tackles the full spectrum of practice areas that intersect in the automotive world. Their lawyers give focused attention, find efficiencies, and display top-notch litigation and negotiation skills. Time after time, the Hogan Lovells team provides more insight in a 5-minute conversation than most other firms give in multiple billable hours."

(Client quote)

Key contacts

Dr. Sebastian Polly

Partner

Dr. Sebastian Polly

Partner

Munich

William W. Yavinsky

Partner

William W. Yavinsky

Partner

Washington, D.C.

Dr. Patrick Ayad, M.Jur. (Oxford)

Partner

Dr. Patrick Ayad, M.Jur. (Oxford)

Partner

Munich, Berlin

Phoebe A. Wilkinson

Partner

Phoebe A. Wilkinson

Partner

New York

Meet the Automotive and Mobility team

Representative experience

Advance Auto Parts, Inc. (NYSE: AAP) on the US$1.5bn sale of its automotive parts wholesale distribution business, Worldpac, Inc., to funds managed by Carlyle.

BMW, GM, Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis on a joint venture to develop and operate high-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging networks across North America.

Mercedes-Benz on global restructurings, several M&A transactions, joint ventures (BMW, Accelera), U.S. regulatory compliance, asset-backed securities in China, and patent litigation in the U.S. and China.

Nissan North America Inc. on strategic regulatory and compliance matters across emissions, fuel economy, and mobility innovation, including U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), and California Air Resources Board (CARB) rulemakings.

Stellantis on its 50-50 joint venture with leading EV battery maker CATL to make a combined investment of up to €4.1bn to build a largescale European lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery plant in Zaragoza, Spain.

Major OEMs, suppliers, and truck/engine makers on emissions, Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) / Automated Vehicle (AV) regulation, EV/battery issues, EPA/CARB compliance, and litigation overturning EPA rules.

Several leading automotive suppliers and car manufacturers on global emissions regulations, investigations, and engagement with authorities.

Several clients from the automotive sector on EU privacy, cross-border data transfers, and General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliance, including EU-wide implementation strategies.

Awards and recognitions

Band 1 in Transportation: Road (Automotive)

Chambers USA

2008-2025

Recognized among the top firms in Transport: Rail and Road – Litigation and Regulation

The Legal 500, United States

2019-2025

Recognized among the top firms in Advice to the transport sector

The Legal 500, Germany

2024-2025

Other ways we can help you

Your questions answered

What are the biggest legal challenges facing the automotive industry today?

Rapid transformation in areas like electrification, autonomous driving, and connectivity means legal teams must navigate a complex landscape of regulatory change, ESG expectations, intellectual property (IP) protection, and cross-border compliance. From EU battery regulations to U.S. emissions standards and AI liability frameworks, staying ahead requires a truly global, cross-disciplinary legal approach.

How can we ensure compliance with evolving emissions and sustainability regulations across multiple jurisdictions?

We help clients monitor and prepare for regulatory shifts – from California’s Advanced Clean Cars rules and EPA’s greenhouse gas (GHG) standards to the European Union’s Fit for 55 package and China's dual credit system. Our team works closely with engineering, legal, and compliance functions to implement practical, auditable frameworks that reduce risk and align with local requirements.

What do automakers and suppliers need to know about AI liability and cybersecurity regulations?

New rules, such as the EU AI Act and U.S. state-level AV legislation, require companies to assess algorithmic transparency, human oversight, and product safety risks. We support clients in developing robust AI governance models, advising on risk allocation in commercial contracts, and preparing for product liability and cybersecurity incidents.

What key factors impact collaborations and joint ventures in the mobility sector?

Collaborations between automakers, tech providers, and startups raise key issues around IP ownership, competition law, data sharing, and operational control. Our experience advising major OEMs and suppliers in connection with joint ventures for EV charging, shared mobility, and battery production, among other topics, allows us to anticipate and mitigate commercial and legal friction points to achieve viable negotiated results.

What are the key considerations when investing in EV infrastructure and battery supply chains?

Location-specific permitting, incentives, and trade controls must be balanced with long-term scalability and resilience. We advise clients on structuring investments and partnerships, conducting supply chain due diligence, and navigating export controls and critical minerals regulations.

How can legal tech help your company manage the current transformative process in the automotive and mobility sector?

Our proprietary legal tech company ELTEMATE offers various products to implement in your work system, such as a customized AI solution for legal teams and supporting software such as our Regulatory Pilot. Please visit ELTEMATE.com to learn more.

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Automotive and Mobility

The automotive and mobility sector is rapidly transforming. We help steer clients through all legal challenges to their commercial advantage.