SENA expects better fourth quarter of 2026, boosted by 10-billion-baht backlog and higher oil prices driving EV sales

Hybrid shopper interest is running at roughly double the share of hybrids on dealer lots, according to new data from Cars.com. In its latest report, Cars.com said 25% of surveyed shoppers named a hybrid as the powertrain they're most seriously considering, while hybrids make up only about one in eight new listings; the survey of 648 recent car buyers and shoppers was fielded from July 31 to Aug. 6. The mismatch is showing up in how fast the cars sell, with days on the lot for new hybrids falling to 46 in August, down 10% from a year ago, while new hybrid supply grew just 1%, and new vehicles overall sat for 73 days, up from 70 a year earlier. The shopper data lines up with automaker results, as Hyundai said its hybrid sales rose 39% in September and 35% in the third quarter, both records, with hybrids accounting for 28% of September volume, while sister brand Kia said its hybrid sales jumped 152% in September and Toyota North America reported its electrified vehicle sales, which include hybrids and EVs, jumped 29% in Q3 as overall volume climbed only 0.6%. Cars.com points to pump prices as one driver, with gas averaging $4.19 a gallon in August and Energy Information Administration data showing the national average at $4.46 by mid-September, and lead analyst Peter Hoang wrote that with gas prices climbing again, hybrids look positioned to keep benefiting from shoppers hedging against pump prices without fully committing to an EV. The findings come as the EV market enters its first year without federal tax credits, after the $7,500 federal EV tax credit expired on Sept. 30, 2025, with days on lot for new EVs falling to 93 in August, the fifth straight monthly improvement, but still double the time for hybrids, and average new-EV prices falling 11% from a year ago to $57,046.

TMBThanachart Bank, or TTB, has announced a partnership with Mazda to support Thailand's electric vehicle market through the launch of the new all-electric SUV, the Mazda CX-6e, along with a special loan offer from ttb drive. Chatcharit Tangthekingkiat, Head of the Auto Loan Group at TTB, revealed that registrations of 100% electric vehicles from January to August 2026 totaled more than 146,000 units, an increase of about 94% compared with the same period in 2025, and that in 2026 new lending for electric vehicles accounted for roughly 50% of the bank's total new auto loans. The loan promotion includes a special interest rate starting at 1.88% per year, plus free first-class insurance when arranging a loan with ttb drive, a Trade-in Campaign that makes it easier to switch to owning a car with instant approval results without needing to submit income documents, and an offer of up to 5,000 baht off one installment for customers who arrange a new auto loan for the Mazda CX-6e with ttb drive, open a ttb all free account, and sign up for the ttb touch app, provided the customer takes delivery and the contract is signed by December 31, 2026. The effective interest rate is 5.21% to 10% per year. Thee Permpongpanth, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Mazda Sales (Thailand) Co., Ltd., said the launch of the all-electric Mazda CX-6e marks another important step for Mazda in expanding electric vehicle choices for Thai consumers, with two variants available: Premium and Premium Sports.