Car output is forecast to slightly increase to 2.55 million next year, boosted by exports and stable domestic sales, according to the automotive industry club of the Federation of Thai Industries.
Chairman Suparat Sirisuwannangkura yesterday said Thailand should end this year with output of 2.481 million units, up by 1.14% from a year earlier.
For the first 11 months, Thailand's car output stood at 2.298 million, up by 2.95% from the same period last year.
Pickup trucks and small passenger cars were the most popular products.
"Several automakers have been preparing to beef up their output to serve growing exports fuelled by the global economic recovery, with exports expected to amount to 1.25 million units next year," Mr Suparat said.
Thailand is expected to ship around 1.1 million vehicles this year, up from 1.02 million in 2012.
For the first 11 months, exports totalled 1.04 million units, up 10.61%, while the value of exports increased by 4.97% to 471.72 billion baht. Toyota Motor Thailand accounts for about 40% of exports.
The auto club reported domestic car sales in the first 11 months amounted to 1.27 million units, down 5.8%.
Domestic sales were forecast at 1.34-1.35 million this year, down from 1.436 million vehicles in 2012.
In November, vehicle output dropped 28.75% year on year to 182,818, the lowest level in seven months.
Domestic car sales last month amounted to 93,123 units, down 37.2% on the previous November. Car exports in November totalled 96,006 units, down 4.21%. Export value amounted to 64.91 billion baht, an increase of 2.56%.
Mr Suparat said domestic sales will return to normal next year and increase gradually to 3-6% growth in 2015.
The club reported 132,000 vehicles booked under the government's first-time car buyer scheme remain stuck in backlogs and most buyers are willing to scrap their rights and let dealers sell the cars to other customers.