Thai car production falls 6.1% in September

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.