Thailand's vehicle production surged to a new high in October, while exports continued to expand from a year earlier with increased shipments to every market, the Federation of Thai Industries said Wednesday.

October vehicle output in Thailand, a regional manufacturing hub for many of the world's biggest automakers, rose 32.7% on year to 152,689 units, the highest ever since the first vehicle was produced in Thailand in 1961, the statement said.

The number of units exported in October was 80,569, up 35.4% on year. The value of car, truck and bus exports--including detached engines and automotive parts--totalled THB 50.67 billion (US$ 1.69 billion) in October, a 23.2% rise from October last year.

If motorcycles and motorcycle parts were included, the total value of exports would have been THB54.44 billion, up 25.0% from a year earlier. In the first 10 months of this year, vehicle production surged 76.1% to 1.35 million units.

The federation forecast vehicle production will reach 273,868 units in the November to December period, up 17.7% on year but down 6.9% from the September to October period.