Thailand Car Sales Rise 10.6% in May

Thailand’s domestic vehicle sales rose 14.28% year-on-year to a five-month low of 55,254 units in September 2026, easing from 25.59% in the previous month, according to data from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). Still, it marked the seventh straight month of growth, highlighting the continued recovery in domestic demand. Meanwhile, vehicle production declined 6.08% year-on-year to 120,319 units, reversing a 10.93% increase in August. For the full year, car production is expected to reach 1.45 million units in 2026. Thailand, Southeast Asia’s largest automotive production hub, also recorded a 4.55% increase in vehicle exports, rebounding from a 2.04% decline in the previous month.

Thailand's domestic vehicle sales surged 25.59% year-on-year to 59,808 units in August 2026, accelerating from a 20.07% increase in July, according to data from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The strong performance marked the sixth consecutive month of growth, highlighting the continued recovery in domestic demand. Vehicle production rose 10.93% from a year earlier to 124,646 units, following a 6.12% gain in July. The government recently announced plans to reduce excise tax rates for automakers that establish production facilities in Thailand, a move aimed at boosting local manufacturing and increasing the use of domestically sourced parts and raw materials. Still, the FTI continues to project a 3.33% decline in total vehicle production for 2026, citing weaker export demand amid ongoing hostilities in the Middle East. Reflecting these challenges, Thailand's vehicle exports fell 2.04% year-on-year in August, reversing a 2.39% increase recorded in the previous month.

Thailand’s domestic car sales surged 20.07% year-on-year to 59,198 units in July 2026, accelerating from a 17.26% increase in June, according to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI). The gain marked the fifth consecutive month of growth, underscoring a continued recovery in domestic demand. Vehicle production rose 6.12% from a year earlier to 117,383 units, rebounding from a 7.55% decline in the previous month. Despite the improvement, the FTI lowered its 2026 vehicle production forecast to 1.45 million units from 1.50 million, citing weaker export performance in the first half of the year. The industry group attributed the downward revision to persistent global headwinds, including lingering Middle East-related disruptions, ongoing trade barriers, intensifying competition from Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, and tighter emissions regulations in key export markets. Meanwhile, Thailand's exports increased 2.39% year-on-year in July after falling 7.45% in the previous month.