For years, Thailand’s automotive market has consistently outpaced Vietnam, often boasting sales figures one and a half to twice as high. However, prolonged challenges within Thailand’s automotive industry have led to consecutive years of declining sales. Conversely, Vietnam’s market has experienced robust growth, driven by VinFast’s remarkable performance and the steady contributions of established brands like Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Ford. This has enabled Vietnam to rapidly close the gap with its neighboring country.
Specifically, in 2025, Thai consumers purchased a total of 621,166 vehicles, while Vietnam recorded 604,134 sales. In 2024, Thailand’s new car sales still exceeded Vietnam’s by approximately 68,600 units. By 2025, this gap narrowed to just 17,000 units, the smallest margin in a decade. This shift underscores a significant change in the regional automotive consumption landscape.
According to the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), Thailand’s 2025 car sales increased by approximately 10%, the highest growth rate in three years. Prior to 2022, Thailand’s market typically maintained annual sales between 700,000 and 800,000 units.
The 2025 improvement was primarily driven by the surge in electrified vehicles. Thailand sold nearly 276,700 such vehicles in 2025, a 48% increase from 2024, accounting for roughly 45% of total new car sales.
In Vietnam, 2025 marked a historic milestone as total vehicle sales surpassed 600,000 units for the first time. VinFast led the growth, more than doubling its 2024 sales, the highest increase in the industry. Ford and Toyota also contributed with growth rates of 20% and 8%, respectively, solidifying the market’s upward trajectory.
Within Southeast Asia, Indonesia and Malaysia retained their positions as the top two automotive markets in 2025. However, while Indonesia’s sales dipped by nearly 4% to 833,692 units, Malaysia saw a slight 0.5% increase to 820,752 units. The gap between these two markets remains narrow. Notably, Indonesia was the only market in the top 5 to experience a sales decline in the past year.
The Philippines rounded out the top 5, with new car sales reaching 491,395 units, a 5.1% increase. It’s worth mentioning that the Philippines was the only Southeast Asian nation in the top 10 importers of Chinese vehicles in 2025, with 256,681 units.
| No. | Market | 2025 New Car Sales | 2024 New Car Sales | Change |
| 1 | Indonesia | 833,692 | 865,720 | -4% |
| 2 | Malaysia | 820,752 | 816,747 | +0.5% |
| 3 | Thailand | 621,166 | 562,954 | +10% |
| 4 | Vietnam | 604,134 | 494,310 | +22.2% |
| 5 | Philippines | 491,395 | 467,253 | +5.1% |
Top 5 Southeast Asian Automotive Markets in 2025
In terms of production, Thailand remains the region’s automotive hub, producing over 1.4 million vehicles in 2025, a slight 1% decrease from 2024. Notably, production of internal combustion engine vehicles in Thailand dropped significantly, by nearly 30%.
The shift of international automotive investments to Indonesia has boosted its production capacity. In 2025, Indonesia emerged as Southeast Asia’s second-largest vehicle producer, manufacturing over 1.14 million units, a 30% increase from 2024.
According to Vietnam Customs, in 2025, Indonesia exported over 78,000 vehicles to Vietnam, while Thailand exported more than 66,000. These two countries accounted for approximately 70% of Vietnam’s total vehicle imports in 2025. Popular models in Vietnam, such as the Toyota Yaris Cross, Ford Ranger, Mitsubishi Xpander, and Mitsubishi Xforce, are imported from these nations.
Vietnam’s domestic vehicle production also saw significant growth due to expanded assembly line investments. VinFast played a pivotal role, with all its vehicles produced at its Hai Phong and Ha Tinh plants. According to the General Statistics Office (Ministry of Finance), Vietnam’s automotive industry produced approximately 484,500 vehicles in 2025, a 25% increase from 2024.
| No. | Country | 2025 Vehicle Production | 2024 Vehicle Production | Change |
| 1 | Thailand | 1,455,569 | 1,468,051 | -1% |
| 2 | Indonesia | 1,147,600 | 885,478 | +30% |
| 3 | Malaysia | 747,780 | 790,348 | -5.3% |
| 4 | Vietnam | 484,500 | 388,500 | +25% |
Vehicle Production in 4 Southeast Asian Countries in 2025
Vietnamese Consumers Purchase Nearly 5,000 Toyota Vehicles in January 2026
Compared to the same period in 2025, Toyota Vietnam’s sales have surged dramatically, achieving an impressive 45% growth.
Mercedes-Benz Vietnam Appoints New CEO, Poised for Accelerated Growth in 2026
As Mercedes-Benz globally approaches the historic milestone of 140 years of formation and development—a proud hallmark of the brand—Mercedes-Benz Vietnam (MBV) officially announces a significant change in its senior leadership team. This move underscores the company’s vision and bold steps forward in 2026.
Chinese Car Brands’ Sales in Vietnam 2025: MG Takes the Lead, BYD Sets Record-Breaking Pace
In 2025, Chinese automakers achieved a significant milestone with a total of 19,103 vehicle registrations, marking a remarkable 26% increase compared to 2024. This surge highlights a new era of growth and market presence for China’s automotive industry.
VinFast Unveils Three Electric Motorcycle Lines, Launching Seven Market-Disrupting Models
VinFast proudly announces the completion of its comprehensive master plan for three distinct electric motorcycle lines: commuter, premium, and sports. Alongside this milestone, the company unveils seven cutting-edge models from the premium and sports lines, setting new benchmarks in design and performance.
Exclusive: Stealthy HCM City Entrepreneur Unveils One-of-a-Kind Porsche 911 Turbo S 992 in Rare Color
It seems that Vietnamese tycoons have a particular fondness for the Porsche 911 Turbo S, as evidenced by the recent addition of a striking deep blue model to their growing collection.
