Thailand Car Sales Jump 53.77% in January

Domestic car sales in Thailand jumped 53.77% year-on-year to 73,951 units in January 2026, following a 39.07% rise in December, according to the Federation of Thai Industries. The country’s car production went up 10.53% to 118,386, following an 8.56% increase in the previous month, supported by rising domestic sales and strong demand for electric vehicles. Meanwhile, car exports dropped 6.28%, reversing an 11.29% growth in December. Looking ahead, the federation projects car production to rise 3% to around 1.5 million units this year, after a 0.9% decline to 1.455 million units in 2025.

Domestic car sales in Thailand surged 39.07% year-on-year to a near three-year high of 75,121 units in December 2025, from a 20.65% gain in the previous month, according to the Federation of Thai Industries. The increase was primarily driven by strong demand for electric vehicles amid the conclusion of the EV 3.0 incentive program. Overall, 2025 sales grew 8.47% to reach 621,166 units. Meanwhile, car production rose 8.56% yoy to 113,855 units in December, as manufacturers increased EV output to compensate for earlier imports under the government’s incentives. Despite this, total vehicle production for 2025 fell 0.9% to around 1.46 million units. Looking ahead to 2026, the federation forecasts a 3% rise in output to 1.5 million units, with 550,000 for the domestic market and the rest for export. Thailand’s car exports grew 11.29% yoy to 84,963 units in December, boosted by a continued robust increase in shipments of hybrid EVs. However, full-year exports fell 8.19% to 935,750 units.

Domestic car sales in Thailand rose 20.65% year-on-year to 51,046 units in November 2025, slowing from a 24.78% increase in October, according to the Federation of Thai Industries. Still, it marked the eighth consecutive month of annual growth, driven by strong demand amid rising consumer confidence and year-end promotional campaigns. Car production grew 11.06% year-on-year to 130,222 units, signaling a steady recovery in Thailand’s auto manufacturing sector. However, challenges remain, as passenger internal combustion engine vehicle sales saw the steepest decline over the first eleven months due to the discontinued production of certain export models. Meanwhile, Thailand's car exports saw an annual decline of 12.2%. Looking ahead, industry officials remain cautiously optimistic. Total vehicle production so far suggests the country is on track to meet its 2025 target of 1.45 million units, though achieving the export goal of 950,000 units remains uncertain.