BANGKOK, July 24 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's auto production continued to contract in June, mainly due to lower output of export-oriented passenger cars and pickup trucks for Middle East markets, data from the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI) showed on Friday.
Automakers produced 120,391 vehicles in Thailand last month, down 7.55 percent from a year earlier, easing from a revised 11.43-percent plunge in May, according to the FTI.
For the first half of 2026, auto production dipped 1.04 percent over the previous year to 717,212 units as fuel-powered passenger cars shrank notably, the FTI said in a statement.
Domestic auto sales surged 17.26 percent year-on-year to 58,724 units in June, reflecting higher deliveries of electric vehicles amid rising global fuel prices linked to the Middle East conflict.
The FTI slashed its 2026 auto output projection by 3.33 percent to 1.45 million units, citing persistent regional conflicts, U.S. trade barriers and import tariffs, as well as stricter emissions standards in key trading partners. ■