What carmakers' purchase terms say about a supplier's…
In 7 of 10 carmaker documents we read, the carmaker owns what the supplier develops under an order, read 28 October 2026.
Who owns work the supplier does under an order
What it says about drawings, models and tooling
Confidentiality of the carmaker's information
The ownership clause in its own words
All the answers, carmaker document by carmaker document
Read across a row for one carmaker document's answers, and open any of them for the quoted sentence, its document and the read date. A "not stated" cell means the document does not speak to that question.
| Carmaker document | Who owns work the supplier does under an order | What it says about drawings, models and tooling | Confidentiality of the carmaker's information | The ownership clause in its own words |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford | the carmaker owns it | drawings, models or tooling the carmaker provides or pays for are its property | Seller will not disclose such drawings to third parties unless this is required for… | Seller grants to Buyer a permanent, paid-up, nonexclusive, worldwide license, with a… |
| Honda (UK) | the carmaker owns it | drawings, models or tooling the carmaker provides or pays for are its property | shall keep in strict confidence all technical or commercial know-how, specifications… | The Supplier shall not supply such Goods manufactured specially for the Company to third… |
| Jaguar Land Rover (Australia) | the carmaker owns it | drawings, models or tooling the carmaker provides or pays for are its property | Supplier acknowledges that in providing the Goods and Services hereunder, it may receive… | Each of Buyer and Supplier and/or its Affiliates shall retain its rights in its… |
| Mercedes-Benz (Australia) | the carmaker owns it | they must be returned or destroyed when asked | not use, disclose, access or reproduce the Confidential Information for any reason except… | including any plans, sketches, blueprints and processes, shall reside with Mercedes-Benz… |
| Mercedes-Benz do Brasil | the supplier keeps it | drawings, models or tooling the carmaker provides or pays for are its property | undertakes to keep confidential and not to make available to third parties any terms of… | In case the component has been developed and/or adapted for MBBras, the intellectual… |
| Renault Group | the supplier keeps it Not addressed in General conditions governing loan-for-use of Renault specific tools | drawings, models or tooling the carmaker provides or pays for are its propertyNot addressed in Conditions of use of the Renault supplier portal (CAU 2024) | Each Party undertakes to keep strictly confidential Not addressed in General conditions governing loan-for-use of Renault specific tools | RENAULT or its Affiliates shall remain the sole and exclusiveowner of all intellectual… Not addressed in General conditions governing loan-for-use of Renault specific tools |
| Rivian | the carmaker owns it | drawings, models or tooling the carmaker provides or pays for are its property | All Confidential Information shall remain the exclusive property of the Disclosing Party | Seller agrees that all Foreground IP created by Seller in connection with the Contract… |
| Stellantis (South America) | the supplier keeps it and the carmaker takes a licence | they must be returned or destroyed when asked | Seller shall maintain confidential any information provided by Buyer. | Seller shall not, under any circumstances, apply any innovative technical solution… |
| Volkswagen Poznań | the carmaker owns it | drawings, models or tooling the carmaker provides or pays for are its property | The Seller shall further be obliged to keep the fact of having concluded the contract… | all copyright as long as such rights relate to works developed in connection with the… |
| Volvo Group | the carmaker owns it | they must be returned or destroyed when asked | shall for the duration of the Purchase Agreement and for ten (10) years thereafter be… | If Volvo or an AB Volvo Subsidiary pays, or otherwise compensates, the Supplier for… |
The 44 sentences the answers come from
- Ford, Global Terms and Conditions (non-production), PC-P-D018, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
Any documents, including drawings and specifications produced or acquired by Seller under a Purchase Order will belong to Buyer, subject only to Seller’s patent rights
- Ford, Global Terms and Conditions (non-production), PC-P-D018, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
All drawings, know-how, and confidential information supplied to Seller by Buyer and all rights therein will remain the property of Buyer
- Ford, Global Terms and Conditions (non-production), PC-P-D018, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
Seller will not disclose such drawings to third parties unless this is required for Seller to fulfill its duties under a Purchase Order.
- Ford, Global Terms and Conditions (non-production), PC-P-D018, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
Seller grants to Buyer a permanent, paid-up, nonexclusive, worldwide license, with a right to sublicense others, to make, have made, use, have used and sell manufactures, compositions, machines, and processes
- Honda (UK), Terms and Conditions of Purchase, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
in any improvements or developments to the Goods which the Supplier may make or suggest, belong to the Company.
- Honda (UK), Terms and Conditions of Purchase, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
All patterns, moulds, jigs, tools, fixtures, samples, materials and all plans, designs, drawings and other documents sent by the Company to the Supplier in connection with the manufacture of goods ordered shall remain the property of the Company
- Honda (UK), Terms and Conditions of Purchase, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
shall keep in strict confidence all technical or commercial know-how, specifications, inventions, processes or initiatives which are of a confidential nature
- Honda (UK), Terms and Conditions of Purchase, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
The Supplier shall not supply such Goods manufactured specially for the Company to third parties, or otherwise use such Intellectual Property Rights, without prior written consent of the Company.
- Jaguar Land Rover (Australia), Terms and conditions for non-production related goods and services, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
shall be the sole and absolute property, in equity and law, of Buyer.
- Jaguar Land Rover (Australia), Terms and conditions for non-production related goods and services, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
any Statement of Work provided by Buyer (including drawings, test data and specifications (including the Specification) developed in whole or in part by Buyer) and any Deliverables created by Supplier shall be Confidential Information of Buyer.
- Jaguar Land Rover (Australia), Terms and conditions for non-production related goods and services, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
Supplier acknowledges that in providing the Goods and Services hereunder, it may receive or have access to Confidential Information.
- Jaguar Land Rover (Australia), Terms and conditions for non-production related goods and services, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
Each of Buyer and Supplier and/or its Affiliates shall retain its rights in its Background IPR.
- Mercedes-Benz (Australia), General Purchasing Terms and Conditions, IPS 90 10 150, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
The Supplier agrees that Mercedes-Benz Group Company will own any Developed IPR in any Goods, Services or materials specially developed, designed, manufactured, produced or supplied by the Supplier
- Mercedes-Benz (Australia), General Purchasing Terms and Conditions, IPS 90 10 150, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
All Mercedes-Benz Group Company Goods must be returned to Mercedes-Benz Group Company on completion or termination of the PO
- Mercedes-Benz (Australia), General Purchasing Terms and Conditions, IPS 90 10 150, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
not use, disclose, access or reproduce the Confidential Information for any reason except as necessary to employees, agents and contractors to the extent necessary to supply goods and/or services pursuant to a PO
- Mercedes-Benz (Australia), General Purchasing Terms and Conditions, IPS 90 10 150, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
including any plans, sketches, blueprints and processes, shall reside with Mercedes-Benz Group Company
- Mercedes-Benz do Brasil, General Purchase Terms and Conditions MBBras_2024/06, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
Nothing in these GPTC or the Contract(s) shall be interpreted as assignment or grant to the other Party of any copy right, patent or license rights, whether express or implied.
- Mercedes-Benz do Brasil, General Purchase Terms and Conditions MBBras_2024/06, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
If MBBras provides Supplier with drawings, specifications, models, tools and samples for the production of the component for MBBras, such items shall remain the exclusive property of the Daimler Group Companies and/or MBBras
- Mercedes-Benz do Brasil, General Purchase Terms and Conditions MBBras_2024/06, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
undertakes to keep confidential and not to make available to third parties any terms of this instrument, as well as any information or document to which it has access pursuant to this Instrument
- Mercedes-Benz do Brasil, General Purchase Terms and Conditions MBBras_2024/06, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
In case the component has been developed and/or adapted for MBBras, the intellectual property provisions shall comply with the corresponding Contract(s) signed between MBBras and the Supplier.
- Renault Group, Conditions of use of the Renault supplier portal (CAU 2024), read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
all intellectualand/or industrial property rights related to the Supplier’s Content shall remain its property.
- Renault Group, Conditions of use of the Renault supplier portal (CAU 2024), read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling: Left open by the document (24,182 characters, read in full 2026-10-28).
- Renault Group, Conditions of use of the Renault supplier portal (CAU 2024), read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
Each Party undertakes to keep strictly confidential
- Renault Group, Conditions of use of the Renault supplier portal (CAU 2024), read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
RENAULT or its Affiliates shall remain the sole and exclusiveowner of all intellectual and industrial property rights contained within and/or used through the Portal
- Renault Group, General conditions governing loan-for-use of Renault specific tools, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order: Left open by the document (13,581 characters, read in full 2026-10-28).
- Renault Group, General conditions governing loan-for-use of Renault specific tools, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
They are financed by RENAULT and are the physical property of RENAULT.
- Renault Group, General conditions governing loan-for-use of Renault specific tools, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information: Left open by the document (13,581 characters, read in full 2026-10-28).
- Renault Group, General conditions governing loan-for-use of Renault specific tools, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words: Left open by the document (13,581 characters, read in full 2026-10-28).
- Rivian, General Terms and Conditions of Production Purchase, v7, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
Seller hereby assigns, and agrees to assign, to Purchaser ownership of all right, title, and interest in the Foreground IP
- Rivian, General Terms and Conditions of Production Purchase, v7, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
shall be owned by Purchaser
- Rivian, General Terms and Conditions of Production Purchase, v7, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
All Confidential Information shall remain the exclusive property of the Disclosing Party
- Rivian, General Terms and Conditions of Production Purchase, v7, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
Seller agrees that all Foreground IP created by Seller in connection with the Contract are “works made for hire” on behalf of Purchaser
- Stellantis (South America), South America Exhibit A to the Global General Terms and Conditions, 2021, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
Seller, upon Buyer’s request, shall grant Buyer a free, non-exclusive license to manufacture, directly or through third parties, the products containing such inventions
- Stellantis (South America), South America Exhibit A to the Global General Terms and Conditions, 2021, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
keep the information confidential, without reproduce or copying it, except as otherwise authorized in writing by Buyer, and not transmit or disclose it to third parties; and (iii) return it to Buyer, upon request.
- Stellantis (South America), South America Exhibit A to the Global General Terms and Conditions, 2021, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
Seller shall maintain confidential any information provided by Buyer.
- Stellantis (South America), South America Exhibit A to the Global General Terms and Conditions, 2021, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
Seller shall not, under any circumstances, apply any innovative technical solution arising from a Codesign agreement for patent or industrial intellectual property, nor keep such solutions as a business and/or technological secret.
- Volkswagen Poznań, General terms and conditions of purchases of goods, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
the parties agree that Volkswagen Poznań shall be solely entitled to patents to inventions or protection rights for utility models as well as the right to register industrial models with reference to inventions and models developed in connection with the performance
- Volkswagen Poznań, General terms and conditions of purchases of goods, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
holds all rights, including intellectual property rights, in particular to all drawings, sketches, calculations and other documents as well as models and templates provided to the Seller
- Volkswagen Poznań, General terms and conditions of purchases of goods, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
The Seller shall further be obliged to keep the fact of having concluded the contract with Volkswagen Poznań in confidence
- Volkswagen Poznań, General terms and conditions of purchases of goods, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
all copyright as long as such rights relate to works developed in connection with the performance of equipment purchase contracts
- Volvo Group, Volvo General Purchasing Conditions, January 2015, read 2026-10-28, Who owns work the supplier does under an order:
any Intellectual Property Rights arising from such work shall accrue to Volvo
- Volvo Group, Volvo General Purchasing Conditions, January 2015, read 2026-10-28, What it says about drawings, models and tooling:
Upon Volvo’s request, all Typebound Tooling, drawings and other materials shall be returned to Volvo.
- Volvo Group, Volvo General Purchasing Conditions, January 2015, read 2026-10-28, Confidentiality of the carmaker's information:
shall for the duration of the Purchase Agreement and for ten (10) years thereafter be treated as confidential
- Volvo Group, Volvo General Purchasing Conditions, January 2015, read 2026-10-28, The ownership clause in its own words:
If Volvo or an AB Volvo Subsidiary pays, or otherwise compensates, the Supplier for development or design work, or contributes in other material respect to such development or design work, for Parts or Typebound Tooling
Not counted on this board
We read 5 named documents that turned out not to be what this board asks about; why is given for each below. They count toward the reading, not the answers.
- Volkswagen Poznan general terms, equipment: Volkswagen Poznań's equipment terms repeat the goods terms' copyright and confidentiality clauses (source 3) word for word in substance; counted once
- Volvo Group purchasing conditions, superstructures and trailers: Volvo Group's conditions for superstructures and trailers bought from body builders; a parts supplier signs the general purchasing conditions read as source 5
- Jaguar general terms and conditions, products (Netherlands): the box's stored read of this PDF cannot be turned into text (pdf-text: Invalid PDF structure); the conductor is told for a redo
- Renault-Nissan Purchasing Way: Renault-Nissan's purchasing philosophy brochure, not contract terms
- Rivian supplier terms index: Rivian's index page that links its terms; the production terms are read as source 16
How we read and count
Each carmaker document's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions were read through estate-fetch and stored whole (sha256 on every row).
For every document, four questions were answered from its own words: who owns work the supplier does under an order, what it says about drawings, models and tooling, confidentiality of the carmaker's information, the ownership clause in its own words.
Every stated answer carries the sentence it rests on, checked against the stored text; 'not stated' means the document read does not address the question.
A carmaker document with several documents reads 'varies' where they disagree.
10 carmaker documents, 11 documents.
16 sources, with links
- Mercedes-Benz Australia general purchasing terms (IPS 90 10 150) (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Daimler Truck purchasing conditions (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Volkswagen Poznan general terms, goods (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Volkswagen Poznan general terms, equipment (read, set aside)
- Volvo Group general purchasing conditions (2015) (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Volvo Group purchasing conditions, superstructures and trailers (read, set aside)
- Stellantis South America exhibit to the Global General Terms (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Renault general purchasing conditions (CAU 2024) (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Renault general conditions for loan for use (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Ford global terms and conditions (non-production) (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Jaguar general terms and conditions, products (Netherlands) (read, set aside)
- Land Rover Australia terms, non-production (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Renault-Nissan Purchasing Way (read, set aside)
- Honda UK terms and conditions of purchase (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
- Rivian supplier terms index (read, set aside)
- Rivian general terms of production purchase v7 (from the publisher's own carmakers' own published purchase terms and supplier conditions; reproduced for comment)
Reference or embed these figures
In 7 of 10 carmaker documents we read, the carmaker owns what the supplier develops under an order, read 28 October 2026.
Who owns work the supplier does under an order, by carmaker document: the carmaker owns it 7 of 10, the supplier keeps it 2 of 10, the supplier keeps it and the carmaker takes a licence 1 of 10 (10 carmaker documents, read 28 October 2026).
What it says about drawings, models and tooling, by carmaker document: drawings, models or tooling the carmaker provides or pays for are its property 7 of 10, they must be returned or destroyed when asked 3 of 10 (10 carmaker documents, read 28 October 2026).
Confidentiality of the carmaker's information, by carmaker document: stated 10 of 10 (10 carmaker documents, read 28 October 2026).
The ownership clause in its own words, by carmaker document: stated 10 of 10 (10 carmaker documents, read 28 October 2026).
Reference: "What carmakers' purchase terms say about a supplier's designs", updated 2026-10-28, https://sellautomotivedatatoai.com/datasets/automotive-oem-supplier-ip-terms/.
Get the CSV (44 answers, worked out 2026-10-28)