BANGKOK — Thailand’s automotive sector saw a significant shift toward electric vehicles in September 2025, with battery electric vehicle (BEV) production surging 330.45% and plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) output soaring 527.08% year-on-year, contributing to a modest 4.77% increase in overall vehicle production for the month, according to Automotive Industry Club.
Surapong Paisitpattanapong, advisor to the chairman and spokesperson of the Automotive Industry Club at the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), revealed that total automotive production in September reached 128,104 units, up 4.77% from the same period last year.
The increase was driven by domestic EV production compensating for the imported electric passenger vehicles that dominated the market in 2022-2023. However, cumulative production for the first nine months of 2025 (January-September) totaled 1,075,801 units, down 4.63% year-on-year.
Electric Vehicle Categories Lead Growth
The production breakdown for September showed remarkable growth across all EV segments:
- BEVs: 6,375 units (up 330.45%)
- PHEVs: 3,474 units (up 527.08%)
- Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs): 17,863 units (up 23.66%)
Additionally, passenger pickup vehicle (PPV) production for both export and domestic sales increased 29.95%, driven by new model launches from several manufacturers.
Domestic Market Shows Resilience
Domestic production reached 42,479 units in September, up 22.73%, while nine-month production totaled 367,107 units, up 3.75%. This aligned with domestic sales of 48,350 units in September (up 23.82%) and 477,969 units for the nine-month period (up 2.12%).
The growth in EV sales was attributed to increasingly competitive pricing and attractive technology features. Several EV models have become more affordable, expanding market accessibility and driving consumer interest.
Pickup Truck Sales Face Headwinds
In contrast, pickup truck sales declined 4% due to tighter lending standards from financial institutions. Weak financial documentation stemming from sluggish economic growth, high living costs, and negative industrial production indices have reduced purchasing power among industrial workers and other consumer segments, including retail and tourism sectors.
Export Performance Mixed
September export production stood at 85,625 units, down 2.33%, with nine-month production totaling 708,694 units, down 8.46%. However, actual exports reached 86,056 units in September, up 7.23%, driven by increased shipments of pickup trucks, including newly launched PPV models, as well as electric passenger cars and pickup trucks to markets in Australia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Central America, and South America.
Despite the overall positive export performance, internal combustion engine (ICE) passenger car exports declined 16.97%, reflecting the global transition toward electrification.
Market Outlook
The surge in EV production signals Thailand’s growing competitiveness in electric vehicle manufacturing as domestic producers compete aggressively on pricing. The trend suggests a structural shift in the country’s automotive industry as manufacturers adapt to changing global demand patterns and local market preferences for electrified vehicles.
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