🗓️ Thursday, November 6, 2025
📍 Rayong, Thailand

🚗⚡ Thailand’s Car Industry Shifts Gears in September 2025 — EVs Zoom Ahead While Pickups Stall

Thailand’s automotive scene in September 2025 had a mixed ride — electric vehicles (EVs) and pickup passenger vehicles (PPVs) sped up production, while pickup trucks hit a bump in the road, struggling with economic headwinds and tighter lending.

According to Surapong Paisitpattanapong, spokesperson for the Automotive Industry Club of the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), the latest figures show a clear trend: Thailand’s car industry is electrifying fast — literally.

🔧 Car Production: Full Speed Ahead

128,104 cars rolled out of factories in September — a 14% jump from August and up 4.77% year-on-year. The boost came mainly from electric vehicles and new PPV models (production of PPVs alone surged 29.95%!).

Why the surge in EVs? Thai manufacturers are filling the gap left by fewer EV imports from 2023–2024.

🌏 Exports: Up, Down, and Charging Forward

85,625 cars were made for export — that’s 66.8% of total production. Compared to last year, exports dipped 2.33%, and for the first nine months of 2025, exports dropped 8.46% year-on-year.

But here’s the silver lining: finished car exports hit 86,056 units, up 20.9% from August and 7.23% from last year — thanks to new EV and PPV models shipped to markets like Australia, the Middle East, and Europe.

🏠 Domestic Market: Thais Loving EVs

42,479 cars were built for local sales — a 22.7% leap from last year. Total domestic sales in September hit 48,350 units, up 23.8% year-on-year.

The star performer? EVs! Their growing affordability and sleek features have Thai buyers buzzing. But pickup trucks weren’t so lucky — sales fell 4%, as tighter bank lending and high living costs put pressure on buyers.

⚡ Electric Vehicle Boom: Thailand Goes Electric

It’s official: Thailand is charging into an EV future.

• Battery EVs (BEVs): 11,906 new registrations in September — an +80% jump from last year.
• From January to September 2025, 104,571 BEVs were registered, and the total BEV fleet now stands at 330,301 units, soaring 59.9% year-on-year.

And that’s not all:

• Hybrid EVs (HEVs): 11,629 registered in September (+23.7% YoY). Total so far: 574,293, up 28.5%.
• Plug-in Hybrids (PHEVs): 1,355 registered in September (+84.6% YoY). Total so far: 78,059, up 27.6%.

Thailand’s car buyers are clearly saying: “Charge it up!”

🛻 Pickup Trucks Hit a Pothole

While EVs are racing ahead, pickup trucks — once the kings of Thai roads — are slowing down. Sales dropped 4% due to stricter loan rules, weaker purchasing power, and rising living costs.

Many consumers are now eyeing fuel-efficient or electric alternatives instead of traditional workhorses.

🚀 The Big Picture

September 2025 painted a clear picture of Thailand’s auto evolution:

• EVs are electrifying growth.
• PPVs are powering exports.
• Pickups are pausing for breath.

As the economy adjusts and electric options expand, one thing’s certain — Thailand’s road ahead is greener, smarter, and a lot more electric.