Thailand's Car Production Falls 6.1% in September Amid Uneven Recovery

Key summary

According to figures released by the Federation of Thai Industries on Tuesday, 27 October 2026, Thailand's car production fell 6.08% year on year to 120,319 vehicles in September. This decline follows a 10.93% increase in August, highlighting an uneven recovery for the sector which remains Southeast Asia's largest automotive production centre. While headline production dropped, domestic vehicle sales rose 14.28% year on year in September after a 25.59% increase in August, supported by electric vehicles according to the federation's Automotive Industry Club. Vehicle exports also improved, increasing 4.55% year on year after falling 2.04% in August. The Federation of Thai Industries retained its 2026 production target at 1.45 million vehicles, having cut it from 1.5 million earlier in the year. Operations were disrupted by flooding in September, and the industry is working to restore production. Whether the full-year target can be met depends on production normalisation, export demand, domestic purchasing power, and the ability to adapt to the shift towards electric vehicles.