From Thailand's roaring pickup production lines to Indonesia's MPV dominance and Vietnam's explosive export growth, the ASEAN auto industry is not just recovering but powerfully redefining itself with historic production, surging investments, and a decisive shift toward an electric future.
Key Takeaways
- Thailand's automobile production in 2023 totaled 1,844,616 units, marking a 20.1% year-on-year increase, primarily driven by pickup trucks;
- Indonesia produced 1,443,559 vehicles in 2023, a 17.5% rise from 2022, with MPVs accounting for 45% of output;
- Vietnam's auto production reached 503,317 units in 2023, up 24% YoY, led by passenger cars at 70%;
- Thailand domestic sales in 2023 reached 870,456 units, up 12.5% YoY despite economic headwinds;
- Indonesia wholesales 2023: 1,229,642 units, 6.6% growth, MPVs 42%;
- Vietnam retail sales 2023: 428,755 units, 18% increase, sedans 35%;
- Thailand vehicle exports in 2023 reached 1,283,000 units, valued at $30.5 billion, up 54% YoY;
- Indonesia exported 562,000 vehicles in 2023, a 37% increase, mainly CKD to ASEAN;
- Vietnam exports grew to 103,000 units in 2023, up 260%, targeting emerging markets;
- Thailand attracted $4.5 billion FDI in auto sector 2023, mainly for EV battery plants;
- Indonesia auto FDI 2023: $2.1 billion, focused on EV and LCGC;
- Vietnam FDI in auto 2023: $1.2 billion, 15 new projects from Japan/Korea;
- Thailand EV market projected to reach 12.3% penetration by 2030, with 775,000 units sold annually;
- ASEAN auto market expected to grow at 4.5% CAGR to 4.5 million units by 2028;
- Indonesia EV sales forecast: 400,000 units by 2030 under 30% target;
Thailand and Indonesia lead ASEAN's growing and diversifying auto industry.
Export Data
- Thailand vehicle exports in 2023 reached 1,283,000 units, valued at $30.5 billion, up 54% YoY;
- Indonesia exported 562,000 vehicles in 2023, a 37% increase, mainly CKD to ASEAN;
- Vietnam exports grew to 103,000 units in 2023, up 260%, targeting emerging markets;
- Malaysia vehicle exports 2023: 413,000 units, worth RM 20 billion;
- Philippines exports 2023: 45,000 units, primarily parts to US;
- Thailand January 2024 exports: 98,000 units;
- Indonesia 2022 exports: 410,000 units;
- Vietnam Q4 2023 exports: 35,000 units;
- Thailand pickup exports 2023: 800,000 units, 62% of total;
- Indonesia MPV exports 2023: 150,000 units to Philippines;
- Malaysia CKD exports 2023: 350,000 units to UK/Australia;
- Philippines parts exports 2023: $2.5 billion;
- Thailand 2022 exports: 830,000 units;
- Vietnam bus exports 2023: 2,000 units;
- Indonesia LCGC exports 2023: 20,000 units;
- Thailand EV exports 2023: 2,000 units;
- Malaysia Proton exports 2023: 50,000 units;
- Philippines engine exports 2023: $1 billion;
- Thailand H1 2023 exports: 650,000 units;
- Indonesia SUV exports 2023: 100,000 units;
- Vietnam car exports to US 2023: 5,000 units;
- Malaysia Perodua exports 2023: 40,000 units;
- Thailand truck exports 2023: 300,000 units;
- Indonesia sedan exports 2023: 10,000 units;
- Vietnam pickup exports 2023: 1,500 units;
- Philippines SUV exports 2023: 3,000 units;
- Thailand passenger car exports 2023: 180,000 units;
- Indonesia parts exports value 2023: $5 billion;
- ASEAN total exports 2023: 2.4 million units;
Export Data Interpretation
Thailand is the undisputed heavyweight champion of ASEAN's auto ring, but Indonesia is carving out a lucrative niche, Vietnam is a surging rookie, and together they're proving the region is much more than just an assembly line for the world.
Industry Trends and Projections
- Thailand EV market projected to reach 12.3% penetration by 2030, with 775,000 units sold annually;
- ASEAN auto market expected to grow at 4.5% CAGR to 4.5 million units by 2028;
- Indonesia EV sales forecast: 400,000 units by 2030 under 30% target;
- Vietnam auto sales projected 800,000 units by 2025, driven by middle class;
- Thailand production capacity to hit 2.5 million units by 2026 with EV focus;
- Malaysia NEV penetration target: 15% by 2025, 20% EVs by 2030;
- Philippines auto market growth: 5.2% CAGR to 600,000 units by 2027;
- ASEAN EV production to reach 1.2 million units by 2030;
- Thailand pickup segment to maintain 40% share through 2030;
- Indonesia MPV dominance to decline to 30% by 2028 with SUV rise;
- Vietnam SUV sales to grow 15% annually to 2027;
- Malaysia affordable car segment 60% market by 2030;
- Thailand exports projected $50B by 2027;
- ASEAN parts market to $100B by 2030 with localization;
- Indonesia battery production capacity 140 GWh by 2030;
- Vietnam FDI to double auto investments to $3B annually by 2028;
- Thailand 30 EV models by 2025, 20% local content;
- ASEAN digital sales platforms adoption to 25% by 2027;
- Malaysia hydrogen vehicle pilots by 2026, small scale;
- Philippines EV charging stations to 5,000 by 2027;
- Thailand autonomous vehicle testing expansion 2025+;
- Indonesia low-emission vehicles 20% by 2025 policy;
- Vietnam export share to rise to 20% of production by 2030;
- ASEAN used car market to grow 7% CAGR to 2028;
- Thailand aftermarket parts digitalization 40% by 2030;
- Indonesia scrappage policy impact: 100,000 old vehicles/year by 2027;
- Malaysia R&D spend to 2% of revenue by 2030;
- Philippines commercial vehicle electrification 10% by 2028;
- ASEAN total market value $150B by 2030;
Industry Trends and Projections Interpretation
While each ASEAN nation is busy chasing its own distinct auto industry rainbow—from Thailand’s EV factory boom to Indonesia’s battery gigafactories and Vietnam’s SUV craze—they’re collectively assembling a regional economic engine so powerful it might just leave internal combustion in the dust.
Investments and FDI
- Thailand attracted $4.5 billion FDI in auto sector 2023, mainly for EV battery plants;
- Indonesia auto FDI 2023: $2.1 billion, focused on EV and LCGC;
- Vietnam FDI in auto 2023: $1.2 billion, 15 new projects from Japan/Korea;
- Malaysia approved auto investments 2023: RM 12.5 billion ($2.7B), Perodua expansion;
- Philippines BOI auto incentives 2023: $500 million in new plants;
- Thailand EV FDI commitments 2024: $1.4 billion from BYD/Chinese firms;
- Indonesia battery FDI 2023: $900 million, LG-Hyundai JV;
- Vietnam VinFast investment 2023: $2 billion domestic expansion;
- Malaysia Proton-Geely JV investment: RM 4 billion by 2025;
- Thailand H1 2023 FDI approvals: $2.8 billion auto-related;
- Indonesia 2022 total auto FDI: $1.8 billion;
- Vietnam Korean FDI auto: $800 million in 2023;
- Malaysia Japanese investments 2023: $1 billion Honda/Toyota;
- Philippines Chinese EV FDI 2023: $300 million;
- Thailand BOI promoted projects 2023: 120 auto firms;
- Indonesia new EV factories 2023: 5 plants, $1.5B total;
- Vietnam assembly line investments 2023: 10 new lines $400M;
- Malaysia CKD hub investments: $800M in 2023;
- Thailand parts FDI 2023: $1 billion;
- Indonesia mining-auto linkage FDI: $500M nickel processing;
- Vietnam bus manufacturing FDI: $200M 2023;
- Malaysia R&D center investments 2023: RM 500M;
- Philippines truck assembly FDI: $150M;
- Thailand cumulative FDI auto since 1960: $100B+;
- Indonesia EV incentives attracted $3B pledges 2023;
- Vietnam total auto FDI stock 2023: $15B;
- Malaysia total approved manufacturing FDI 2023: RM 100B, 20% auto;
- ASEAN auto FDI inflows 2023: $10.5 billion;
Investments and FDI Interpretation
While Thailand is cornering the market on EV batteries and Indonesia is battling for the low-cost EV crown, ASEAN's auto race is less a demolition derby and more a high-stakes, multi-lane highway where everyone is flooring it towards an electric future, just in their own distinct vehicle.
Production Volumes
- Thailand's automobile production in 2023 totaled 1,844,616 units, marking a 20.1% year-on-year increase, primarily driven by pickup trucks;
- Indonesia produced 1,443,559 vehicles in 2023, a 17.5% rise from 2022, with MPVs accounting for 45% of output;
- Vietnam's auto production reached 503,317 units in 2023, up 24% YoY, led by passenger cars at 70%;
- Malaysia manufactured 567,872 vehicles in 2023, including 118,000 CKD units exported;
- Philippines produced 102,189 vehicles in 2023, a 12.3% increase, dominated by commercial vehicles;
- Thailand's January 2024 production was 152,456 units, down 8.5% from December 2023;
- Indonesia's 2022 production hit 1,226,875 units, with exports influencing 25% growth;
- Vietnam Q4 2023 production: 143,200 units, up 32% from Q3;
- Thailand pickup truck production in 2023: 845,000 units, 46% of total;
- Indonesia MPV production 2023: 650,000 units, 45% market share;
- Malaysia passenger car production 2023: 380,000 units, 67% of total;
- Philippines commercial vehicle production 2023: 78,000 units, 76% of output;
- Thailand 2022 total production: 1,535,808 units;
- Vietnam assembled 410,000 CKD units in 2023;
- Indonesia low-cost green car (LCGC) production: 120,000 units in 2023;
- Thailand EV production ramp-up: 5,200 units in 2023;
- Malaysia Proton production: 150,000 units in 2023;
- Philippines Isuzu production: 25,000 units in 2023;
- Thailand H1 2023 production: 908,000 units;
- Indonesia SUV production 2023: 350,000 units;
- Vietnam bus production 2023: 12,500 units;
- Malaysia Perodua production: 280,000 units in 2023;
- Thailand truck production 2023: 450,000 units;
- Indonesia hatchback production: 200,000 units in 2023;
- Vietnam pickup production: 15,000 units in 2023;
- Philippines SUV production: 18,000 units in 2023;
- Thailand passenger car production 2023: 550,000 units;
- Indonesia sedan production 2023: 80,000 units;
- Malaysia CKD exports production: 118,000 units in 2023;
- Vietnam total capacity utilization 2023: 65%;
- ASEAN total vehicle production 2023: 3.4 million units, led by Thailand and Indonesia;
Production Volumes Interpretation
While Southeast Asia’s auto industry is racing ahead like a pickup truck through a monsoon, with Thailand and Indonesia as the undisputed champions of production, it’s clear the region's road to dominance is being paved one MPV and one-ton truck at a time.
Sales Figures
- Thailand domestic sales in 2023 reached 870,456 units, up 12.5% YoY despite economic headwinds;
- Indonesia wholesales 2023: 1,229,642 units, 6.6% growth, MPVs 42%;
- Vietnam retail sales 2023: 428,755 units, 18% increase, sedans 35%;
- Malaysia total industry volume (TIV) 2023: 700,326 units, 5% up;
- Philippines sales 2023: 463,542 units, 7.7% YoY growth;
- Thailand January 2024 sales: 72,454 units, down 5%;
- Indonesia 2022 sales: 1,153,316 units;
- Vietnam Q4 2023 sales: 120,000 units;
- Thailand pickup sales 2023: 410,000 units, 47%;
- Indonesia MPV sales 2023: 514,000 units;
- Malaysia passenger car sales 2023: 510,000 units, 73%;
- Philippines commercial vehicle sales 2023: 300,000 units, 65%;
- Thailand 2022 sales: 775,000 units;
- Vietnam CKD sales 2023: 300,000 units;
- Indonesia LCGC sales 2023: 110,000 units;
- Thailand EV sales 2023: 76,000 units, 9% of total;
- Malaysia Proton sales 2023: 160,000 units;
- Philippines Toyota sales 2023: 150,000 units;
- Thailand H1 2023 sales: 450,000 units;
- Indonesia SUV sales 2023: 320,000 units;
- Vietnam bus sales 2023: 10,000 units;
- Malaysia Perodua sales 2023: 300,000 units;
- Thailand truck sales 2023: 200,000 units;
- Indonesia hatchback sales 2023: 180,000 units;
- Vietnam pickup sales 2023: 12,000 units;
- Philippines SUV sales 2023: 45,000 units;
- Thailand passenger car sales 2023: 260,000 units;
- Indonesia sedan sales 2023: 70,000 units;
- Malaysia export sales production-linked: 190,000 units in 2023;
- ASEAN total sales 2023: 3.2 million units;
Sales Figures Interpretation
One could say the ASEAN auto market is like a multi-course meal where Thailand still feasts on pickups, Indonesia orders the family-sized MPV platter, Vietnam prefers a sedan, Malaysia sticks with its trusty national brand staples, and the Philippines loads up on commercial vehicles, all while cautiously eyeing the EV amuse-bouche.
Sources & References
- Reference 1MARKLINESmarklines.comVisit source
- Reference 2GAIKINDOgaikindo.or.idVisit source
- Reference 3VAMAvama.org.vnVisit source
- Reference 4MAAmaa.org.myVisit source
- Reference 5CAM-PIcam-pi.comVisit source
- Reference 6OICAoica.netVisit source
- Reference 7VIETNAMNETvietnamnet.vnVisit source
- Reference 8THAI-AUTOINFOthai-autoinfo.comVisit source
- Reference 9VAMOSAvamosa.org.vnVisit source
- Reference 10PROTONproton.comVisit source
- Reference 11ISUZUPHILisuzuphil.comVisit source
- Reference 12THAIAUTOthaiauto.or.thVisit source
- Reference 13PERODUAperodua.com.myVisit source
- Reference 14TOYOTAtoyota.com.phVisit source
- Reference 15ASEANasean.orgVisit source
- Reference 16BOIboi.go.thVisit source
- Reference 17BKPMbkpm.go.idVisit source
- Reference 18MPImpi.gov.vnVisit source
- Reference 19MIDAmida.gov.myVisit source
- Reference 20BOIboi.gov.phVisit source
- Reference 21VINFASTAUTOvinfastauto.comVisit source
- Reference 22STATISTAstatista.comVisit source