Vietnam's auto market has entered its most dynamic period of the year, as car buying demand surged significantly in November.

By the end of November 2025, total sales from VAMA members reached 328,669 units, up 6.5% year-on-year from over 308,000 units in the same period of 2024.

Within this figure, sales of passenger cars slightly declined by 1%, commercial vehicle sales surged by 29%, and special-purpose vehicles rose dramatically by 70% compared to the same period last year.

In terms of vehicle origin, sales of domestically assembled vehicles in November reached 18,370 units, up 7.2% from the previous month. However, sales of completely built-up (CBU) imported vehicles remained higher, with 20,968 units sold, a 1% increase compared to October.

This marks the ninth consecutive month that imported vehicles outsold domestically produced ones among VAMA members.

Accumulated over the first 11 months of 2025, sales of locally assembled vehicles stood at 155,417 units, a slight 3% drop from the same period in 2024. Meanwhile, imported vehicle sales reached 173,252 units, up 17% year-on-year.

These figures highlight a clear trend: Vietnamese consumers are increasingly choosing imported vehicles over locally assembled ones. However, it is important to note that VAMA's data does not represent the entire Vietnamese auto market. Major manufacturers like VinFast and Hyundai report their sales figures separately.

According to the General Statistics Office under the Ministry of Finance, domestic vehicle production in November was estimated at 50,900 units. This marks a 24.1% increase from October and an 8.2% rise compared to November 2024, making it the highest monthly production figure for Vietnam’s auto industry in 2025.

On the other hand, an estimated 16,256 imported vehicles entered Vietnam in November, valued at $456 million. This reflects a slight 0.5% drop in quantity but a 6.0% increase in total value compared to October, which saw 16,343 units worth $430 million.

Hoang Hiep