Thailand - Passenger Cars - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights
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Thailand - Passenger Cars - Market Analysis, Forecast, Size, Trends And Insights

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Jan 31, 2025

Thailand's EV Market Faces Fierce Price War Amid Rising Local Production

Thailand's automotive sector is anticipating a fierce price competition in the electric vehicle (EV) market, driven by an increase in local production from Chinese automakers. As reported by Chayut Setboonsarng, this development poses a significant challenge to the domestic auto industry, which has already been grappling with declining sales.

The Electric Vehicle Association of Thailand (EVAT) projects that EV sales in Thailand, the largest EV market in Southeast Asia, will increase by 40% this year, surpassing 100,000 units. This follows an 8% dip in sales last year. This anticipated rise is largely attributed to a national incentive programme that mandates local production of 1.5 vehicles for every imported vehicle to qualify for tax breaks. As a result, Thailand registered 70,000 new EVs last year and imported approximately 84,000 EVs between 2022 and 2023.

Despite these incentives, industry analysts warn of intensified price competition. Companies like Great Wall Motor have already slashed prices, reducing the cost of its Ora Good Cat by as much as 270,000 baht, while GAC AION decreased its AION Y Plus by 166,000 baht. This "price war," as described by Siam Commercial Bank Economic Intelligence Unit's Tita Phekanonth, may extend to internal combustion engine vehicles as well.

The impact on Thailand's auto production, a significant hub in Asia exporting about three-fifths of locally manufactured vehicles, is profound. According to IndexBox data, the export value of passenger cars in Thailand increased from $12.8 billion in 2023 to $13 billion in 2024, despite domestic challenges. However, data also shows a steep decline in import value from $4.5 billion in 2023 to $2.3 billion in 2024. The major export destinations included Australia ($2.7 billion), the Philippines ($1.6 billion), and Saudi Arabia ($1.1 billion), indicating a strong export market.

The Board of Investment has adjusted the incentive programme guidelines by extending the timeline for battery production and providing incentives for hybrids to address concerns about oversupply and the subsequent price war. Chinese EV companies, which have invested over $3 billion in Thailand, including BYD and Great Wall Motor, are now poised to begin exporting from Thailand, potentially alleviating oversupply issues.

While this transition positions Thailand as a burgeoning EV production hub with a strategic export advantage, it underscores the necessity for the domestic market to adapt rapidly to the emerging competitive landscape shaped by Chinese investments and government policies.

Source: IndexBox Market Intelligence Platform

This report provides an in-depth analysis of the passenger car market in Thailand. Within it, you will discover the latest data on market trends and opportunities by country, consumption, production and price developments, as well as the global trade (imports and exports). The forecast exhibits the market prospects through 2030.

Product coverage:

  • Prodcom 29102100 - Vehicles with spark-ignition engine of a cylinder capacity. 1 .500 cm., new
  • Prodcom 29102230 - Motor vehicles with a petrol engine > 1 .500 cm. (including motor caravans of a capacity > 3 .000 cm.) (excluding vehicles for transporting . .10 persons, snowmobiles, golf cars and similar vehicles)
  • Prodcom 29102250 - Motor caravans with a spark-ignition internal combustion reciprocating piston engine of a cylinder capacity > 1 .500 cm. but . 3 .000 cm.
  • Prodcom 29102310 - Motor vehicles with a diesel or semi-diesel engine . 1 .500 cm. (excluding vehicles for transporting . .10 persons, s nowmobiles, golf cars and similar vehicles)
  • Prodcom 29102330 - Motor vehicles with a diesel or semi-diesel engine > 1 .500 cm. but . 2 .500 cm. (excluding vehicles for transporting . .10 persons, motor caravans, snowmobiles, golf cars and similar vehicles)
  • Prodcom 29102340 - Motor vehicles with a diesel or semi-diesel engine > 2 .500 cm. (excluding vehicles for transporting . .10 persons, motor caravans, snowmobiles, golf cars and similar vehicles)
  • Prodcom 29102353 - Motor caravans with a compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel) of a cylinder capacity > 1 .500 cm. but . 2 .500 cm.
  • Prodcom 29102355 - Motor caravans with a compression-ignition internal combustion piston engine (diesel or semi-diesel) of a cylinder capacity > 2 .500 cm.
  • Prodcom 29102400 - Other motor vehicles for the transport of persons (excluding vehicles for transporting . .10 persons, snowmobiles, golf cars and similar vehicles)
  • Prodcom 29102410 -
  • Prodcom 29102430 -
  • Prodcom 29102450 -
  • Prodcom 29102490 -

Country coverage:

  • Thailand

Data coverage:

  • Market volume and value
  • Per Capita consumption
  • Forecast of the market dynamics in the medium term
  • Trade (exports and imports) in Thailand
  • Export and import prices
  • Market trends, drivers and restraints
  • Key market players and their profiles

Reasons to buy this report:

  • Take advantage of the latest data
  • Find deeper insights into current market developments
  • Discover vital success factors affecting the market

This report is designed for manufacturers, distributors, importers, and wholesalers, as well as for investors, consultants and advisors.

In this report, you can find information that helps you to make informed decisions on the following issues:

  1. How to diversify your business and benefit from new market opportunities
  2. How to load your idle production capacity
  3. How to boost your sales on overseas markets
  4. How to increase your profit margins
  5. How to make your supply chain more sustainable
  6. How to reduce your production and supply chain costs
  7. How to outsource production to other countries
  8. How to prepare your business for global expansion

While doing this research, we combine the accumulated expertise of our analysts and the capabilities of artificial intelligence. The AI-based platform, developed by our data scientists, constitutes the key working tool for business analysts, empowering them to discover deep insights and ideas from the marketing data.

  1. 1. INTRODUCTION

    Making Data-Driven Decisions to Grow Your Business

    1. REPORT DESCRIPTION
    2. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY AND AI PLATFORM
    3. DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS FOR YOUR BUSINESS
    4. GLOSSARY AND SPECIFIC TERMS
  2. 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

    A Quick Overview of Market Performance

    1. KEY FINDINGS
    2. MARKET TRENDS This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
  3. 3. MARKET OVERVIEW

    Understanding the Current State of The Market and Its Prospects

    1. MARKET SIZE
    2. MARKET STRUCTURE
    3. TRADE BALANCE
    4. PER CAPITA CONSUMPTION
    5. MARKET FORECAST TO 2030
  4. 4. MOST PROMISING PRODUCT

    Finding New Products to Diversify Your Business

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP PRODUCTS TO DIVERSIFY YOUR BUSINESS
    2. BEST-SELLING PRODUCTS
    3. MOST CONSUMED PRODUCT
    4. MOST TRADED PRODUCT
    5. MOST PROFITABLE PRODUCT FOR EXPORT
  5. 5. MOST PROMISING SUPPLYING COUNTRIES

    Choosing the Best Countries to Establish Your Sustainable Supply Chain

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP COUNTRIES TO SOURCE YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP PRODUCING COUNTRIES
    3. TOP EXPORTING COUNTRIES
    4. LOW-COST EXPORTING COUNTRIES
  6. 6. MOST PROMISING OVERSEAS MARKETS

    Choosing the Best Countries to Boost Your Exports

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
    1. TOP OVERSEAS MARKETS FOR EXPORTING YOUR PRODUCT
    2. TOP CONSUMING MARKETS
    3. UNSATURATED MARKETS
    4. TOP IMPORTING MARKETS
    5. MOST PROFITABLE MARKETS
  7. 7. PRODUCTION

    The Latest Trends and Insights into The Industry

    1. PRODUCTION VOLUME AND VALUE
  8. 8. IMPORTS

    The Largest Import Supplying Countries

    1. IMPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. IMPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. IMPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
  9. 9. EXPORTS

    The Largest Destinations for Exports

    1. EXPORTS FROM 2012–2024
    2. EXPORTS BY COUNTRY
    3. EXPORT PRICES BY COUNTRY
  10. 10. PROFILES OF MAJOR PRODUCERS

    The Largest Producers on The Market and Their Profiles

    This Chapter is Available Only for the Professional Edition PRO
  11. LIST OF TABLES

    1. Key Findings In 2024
    2. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    3. Market Value, 2012–2024
    4. Per Capita Consumption In 2012-2024
    5. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    6. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    7. Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
    8. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    9. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    10. Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024
  12. LIST OF FIGURES

    1. Market Volume, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    2. Market Value, 2012–2024
    3. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
    4. Market Structure – Domestic Supply vs. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
    5. Trade Balance, In Physical Terms, 2012-2024
    6. Trade Balance, In Value Terms, 2012-2024
    7. Per Capita Consumption, 2012-2024
    8. Market Volume Forecast to 2030
    9. Market Value Forecast to 2030
    10. Products: Market Size And Growth, By Type
    11. Products: Average Per Capita Consumption, By Type
    12. Products: Exports And Growth, By Type
    13. Products: Export Prices And Growth, By Type
    14. Production Volume And Growth
    15. Exports And Growth
    16. Export Prices And Growth
    17. Market Size And Growth
    18. Per Capita Consumption
    19. Imports And Growth
    20. Import Prices
    21. Production, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    22. Production, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    23. Imports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    24. Imports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    25. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    26. Imports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    27. Imports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    28. Import Prices, By Country Of Origin, 2012–2024
    29. Exports, In Physical Terms, 2012–2024
    30. Exports, In Value Terms, 2012–2024
    31. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2024
    32. Exports, In Physical Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    33. Exports, In Value Terms, By Country, 2012–2024
    34. Export Prices, By Country Of Destination, 2012–2024

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