Visitors navigate Challenger Hall at Impact Exhibition Center in Nonthaburi during the 12-day Bangkok International Motor Show ending on April 5. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Car ​production in Thailand dropped ‌to its lowest level in five years in April, the Federation of Thai Industries said on Monday, due to ​export disruptions ⁠from the war in the Middle East and higher energy prices.Auto production dropped ‌0.44% in April from a year earlier to 103,794 units, following a 2.69% rise in March.

⁠Domestic sales rose 2.54%, partly from bookings at the Bangkok Motor Show, coming in at 48,394 vehicles, said Surapong Paisitpatanapong, president of the FTI ​auto club, at a press conference.

Thailand auto exports dropped 8.43% to ​60,190 units.

‌Thailand is Southeast Asia's biggest auto production centre. It is an export ​base ⁠for some of the world's top carmakers, including Toyota, Honda ⁠and Chinese brands like BYD and Great Wall Motors, who have invested in recent years to supply locally ⁠and to export markets.