Vietnam automotive imports: Indonesia leads volume, China leads value

Vietnam's automotive import market saw significant activity in the first eight months of 2026, with total imports of completely built-up (CBU) vehicles reaching 168,033 units, a 29.5% increase compared to the same period last year.

Indonesia remains the largest supplier by volume, providing 70,366 vehicles, which represents a 35.4% year-on-year increase. Thailand ranks second with 44,411 vehicles, despite a 6.2% decrease in imports from that market. China holds the third position in volume with 44,335 vehicles, marking a sharp 45.9% increase.

While Indonesia leads in quantity, China leads in total import value. China's automotive export value to Vietnam reached $1.567 billion, up 58.8% year-on-year. This disparity is driven by a higher average declared value per vehicle from China—approximately $35,344—compared to $20,783 from Thailand and $14,368 from Indonesia. The higher value from Chinese imports is attributed to a mix of high-value specialized construction vehicles and an increasingly diverse range of passenger cars.