Thai car production falls 6.1% in September - Bangkok Post

EVs lead 14.3% year-on-year gain in domestic sales rise

Employees work on a vehicle on the assembly line at the Toyota Ban Pho plant in Chachoengsao. (Photo: Supplied) ​Car production in ‌Thailand dropped 6.1% in September from a year earlier to 120,319 units, due partially to disruptions caused by flooding, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Tuesday.

The reading ​followed ⁠a rise of 10.9% in August.

Despite the decline in September, cumulative vehicle production in the first nine months of 2026 was still up 0.4% year-on-year to 1.08 million units.

The FTI maintained ⁠its annual auto production target at 1.45 million units, after cutting it in July from 1.5 million units set at the start of the ​year.

Domestic car sales in September rose 14.3% from a year earlier, following a rise ​of ‌25.5% in August, the federation said. Sales for the first nine months were up 16.4% at 512,226 units.

The increase was driven by electric vehicles, ​said Surapong ⁠Paisitpattanapong, spokesperson for the Automotive Industry Club of the FTI.

⁠Car exports rose 4.55% year-on-year in September, compared to a fall of 2% in the previous month, ⁠the FTI said. However, exports for the first nine months remained weak, declining 4.9% to 655,009 units.

Thai carmakers have ​resumed production after flooding last month that disrupted operations at automakers and suppliers, ‌and killed ⁠at least 80 people.