Car exports in March 2010 increased 42.93 per cent year-on-year, Federation of Thai Industries' Automotive Industry Club spokesman Surapong Paisitpatnapong said on Wednesday.

Mr Surapong said 63,949 cars were exported last month, with a total value of 29.84 billion baht. The amount was 50.43 per cent higher than the same period last year.

The increase was due to higher orders from all markets except the Middle East, he said.

The country exported 196,537 cars in the first quarter of 2010. The figure was 41.59 per cent higher year-on-year. The total export value was 92.74 billion baht, 46.33 per cent higher than the first quarter of last year.

The country recorded the highest increase in car production last month at 150,119 units, 129.37 per cent higher year-on-year and 17.42 per cent higher than February 2010.

A total of 381,817 cars were manufactured in the previous quarter, 91.82 per cent higher than the same period of 2009.

63,067 cars were sold in March, 52.6 per cent higher year-on-year and 16.41 per cent higher than its previous month, thanks to the 31st Bangkok International Motor Show.

Mr Surapong said many people were interested in purchasing cars under 1,500 cc.

Car sales in the first quarter stood at 166,802 units, 54.8 per cent higher year-on-year.

The FTI's earlier projection had been that the country will manufacture 1.4 million vehicles and export 800,000 this year, Mr Surapong said.

However, the federation will have to revise its forecast due to the continuing political crisis, lower public spending and drought problems.