Photo courtesy of The Thaiger

 

Thailand's car production increased by 11.06% in November from the previous year, reaching 130,222 units, as announced by the Federation of Thai Industries. This growth follows an October rise of 14.17%, highlighting a recovery in the country's automotive manufacturing sector. Thailand, known as Southeast Asia’s largest vehicle production hub, hosts major export operations for global car manufacturers like Toyota and Honda.

 

Local car sales, crucial to November's production growth, surged by 20.65%, continuing the upward trend from October's nearly 25% increase. Industry experts cite improved consumer confidence and effective promotional campaigns as key reasons for this domestic market strength. Surapong Paisitpatanapong from the Federation of Thai Industries expressed relief, noting that recent gains have compensated for earlier market segment weaknesses.

 

However, challenges persist despite the overall production increase, as evidenced by a decline in passenger internal combustion engine vehicles due to discontinued production of certain export models. Surapong explained this is part of a shift toward newer technologies. Export figures also fell by 12.2% in November and 1.5% in October, reflecting uneven global demand and rising international competition.

 

Looking forward, cautious optimism prevails among industry officials. Surapong noted that current production levels suggest Thailand could achieve its annual target of 1.45 million units. Nonetheless, reaching the export goal of 950,000 units remains uncertain due to the recent decline in overseas shipments. The auto sector plays a vital role in Thailand's economy, underpinning numerous jobs and contributing significantly to industrial output and exports. Analysts emphasize that strong domestic sales could mitigate export challenges, but global market conditions will heavily influence outcomes in 2026, reported The Thaiger.

 

Key Takeaways

• Thailand's car production rose 11.06% year-on-year in November.
• Domestic sales growth offset declining export figures.
• Uncertainty remains for achieving export targets despite strong domestic demand.

 

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  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-12-22

 

 

 

If exports dropped by 12 percent whos  buying them 

1 hour ago, ozz1 said:

If exports dropped by 12 percent whos  buying them 

• Domestic sales growth offset declining export figures.

Can't be Isuzu.

This year's models are ugly in even more ugly colors.

As a result of gigantic auto sales increases in October and continuing on from there:

 

Will this mean that local traffic congestion will increase as well?

Or, will it be the case that people here buy more cars in order to drive different cars on different days.

 

Are we adding that many new drivers in Thailand that this might correspond with increasing auto sales?