Thailand Vehicle Production Falls 17.94% to 114,214 Units in May 2026
Thailand's automotive industry came under pressure from geopolitical tensions in May 2026, with total vehicle production falling to 114,214 units, down 17.94% year-on-year. The decline was mainly driven by a 36.20% contraction in export-oriented production, as demand for passenger cars and one-ton pickup trucks weakened in the Middle East amid regional conflicts. Despite the export slowdown, production for the domestic market increased 12.78%, marking the first time domestic-oriented production exceeded export production.
June 29, 2026 — The Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), represented by Surapong Paisitpattanapong, announced Thailand's automotive production performance for May 2026.
Thailand's Car Production Down 17.94% in May 2026
Thailand produced 114,214 vehicles in May 2026, a 17.94% decrease from May 2025. The decline was attributed to a 36.20% drop in export production, mainly due to lower production of passenger cars and one-ton pickup trucks for overseas markets affected by the conflict in the Middle East.
The Middle East remained Thailand's third-largest automotive export market, accounting for 200,001 exported vehicles in 2025, or approximately 21% of Thailand's total vehicle exports.
During the January–May 2026 period, Thailand produced 587,759 vehicles, down 1.13% year-on-year.
Passenger Car Production
Passenger car production totaled 47,407 units in May 2026, down 12.43% YoY.
Production by powertrain:
- ICE passenger cars: 14,019 units, down 44.39
- BEV passenger cars: 6,185 units, down 3.53%
- Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEV): 4,197 units, up 128.47
- Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEV): 23,006 units, up 11.27%
Cumulative production for January–May reached 204,006 units, representing 34.71% of total vehicle production, down 4.51% from the same period last year.
Within the segment:
- ICE passenger cars totaled 74,421 units, down 18.85%
- BEV passenger cars reached 21,396 units, up 4.40%
- PHEV passenger cars totaled 10,748 units, up 11.73%
- HEV passenger cars climbed to 97,441 units, up 6.12%
Commercial Vehicle and Pickup Truck Production
Commercial vehicle production in May2026 totaled 66,807 units, down 21.45% year-on-year. Cumulative production reached 383,753 units, up 0.76%.
One-ton pickup truck production totaled 65,314 units, down 22.68% YoY. January–May production reached 376,604 units, accounting for 64.07% of Thailand's total vehicle production, down 0.16%.
Cumulative pickup production included:
- Pickup trucks: 61,939 units, up 2.46%
- Double-cab pickups: 234,920 units, down 3.09%
- BEV double-cab pickups: 1,831 units, surging 3,968.89%
- PPV vehicles: 77,914 units, up 4.88%
Meanwhile, trucks ranging from below 5 tons to above 10 tons production reached 1,493 units, up 159.20% year-on-year. January–May production totaled 7,149 units, an increase of 95.49%.
Export Production
Vehicles produced for export totaled 55,694 units, accounting for 48.76% of total production, down 36.20% year-on-year.
- Passenger car production for export down 4.96% in May to 13,661 units, while cumulative export production reached 81,636 units, up 11.65%.
- However, one-ton pickup production for export in May down 38.79% year-on-year to 42,033units, reflecting weaker demand from Middle Eastern markets. Jan–May: 290,663 units, down -8.30%
During January–May 2026, export-oriented production reached 372,299 units, representing 63.34% of total production, down 4.56%.
Export pickup breakdown:
- Pickup trucks: 5,576 units, increase 12.06%; Jan–May: 30,856 units, down 14.46%
- Double-cab pickups: 26,083 units down 49.70%; Jan–May: 202,626 units, down 8.58%
- PPVs: 10,374 units, down12.38%; Jan–May: 57,181 units, down 3.53%
Domestic Production
Production for the domestic market reached 58,520 units, accounting for 51.24% of total production, up 12.78% year-on-year.
Cumulative domestic production during January–May 2026 totaled 215,460 units, representing 36.66% of total production, up 5.41%.
- Passenger cars: 33,746 units, decrease 4.96%; Jan–May: 122,370 units, down -12.92%
- One-ton pickups: 23,281 units, up 47.30%; Jan–May: 85,941 units, increased 42.73%
Domestic pickup breakdown:
- Pickup trucks: 9,567 units, up 77.13%; Jan–May: 31,083 units 27.49%.
- Double-cab pickups: 8,540 units, up 53.68%; Jan–May: 34,125 units, up 63.94%.
- PPVs: 5,174 units, up 6.75%; Jan–May: 20,733 unis, up +38.06%
Production of buses remained at zero during both May and the January–May 2026 period, while medium and heavy truck production reached 1,493 units in May and 7,149 units during the first five months of the year, up 159.20% and 95.49%, respectively.
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