AsemconnectVietnam - Vietnamese automotive industry has recorded impressive growth since the beginning of 2026. Continuously increasing vehicle output has provided impetus for the development of the domestic automotive industry.

Domestically assembled cars continued to play a dominant role
According to a recently published report by the General Statistics Office (Ministry of Finance), a total of 81,296 new cars, including both domestically produced and imported vehicles, were added to the Vietnamese market in June of 2026. This figure represents an 8.6% increase compared to May (74,830 units).
Of these, domestically assembled cars continued to play a dominant role with 54,100 units produced, a 5.9% increase compared to the previous month and a significant 32.1% increase compared to June of 2025. This represented a high growth figure for 2026, surpassing the 51,700 units produced in January. Cumulatively, in the first half of 2026, domestic automobile manufacturers were estimated to have shipped a total of 284,600 new vehicles, a 26.9% increase compared to the same period of 2025.
The first-half business results showed that the Vietnamese automobile market continues to maintain a positive growth foundation, despite economic fluctuations and changes in purchasing power. The increase in imported vehicles and the breakthrough of hybrid vehicles indicate a shift in consumer preferences towards products with more diverse technology and experiences. This will also provide a basis for car manufacturers to continue launching promotional programs and new products in the second half of the year to capitalize on the peak shopping season at the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Vietnamese automotive market is expected to reach 700,000 vehicles in 2026, an increase of approximately 20% compared to 2025. Rapid urbanization, improved per capita income, and increasing demand for personal vehicle ownership are factors driving high growth in the Vietnamese automotive market.
According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the car ownership rate in Vietnam is currently only about 63 vehicles per 1,000 people, still far behind regional countries such as Thailand or Malaysia. Thailand's car ownership rate is currently 277 vehicles per 1,000 people, while Malaysia's is 535 vehicles per 1,000 people.
Vietnam is currently the fastest-growing automotive market in Southeast Asia, projected to reach over 20% growth in 2025. According to MarkLines, a global automotive industry data website, new car sales in Malaysia were estimated to reach 820,752 units in 2025, followed by Indonesia with 803,687 units, Thailand with 621,166 units, and Vietnam with 604,046 units. It is predicted that by 2026, Vietnam will surpass Thailand to become one of the top three largest automotive markets in Southeast Asia.
CK
Source: VITIC/congthuong.vn