RIO DE JANEIRO - Vehicle production in Brazil reached a record-high 3.35 million units in the first 11 months of 2010, up 14.6 percent from the same period last year, the National Automakers' Association (Anfavea) said Monday.

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The figures surpass the vehicle production registered in the entire year of 2009 - 3.18 million units. Anfavea expects a total production of 3.6 million vehicles in 2010.

In November, a total of 321,084 vehicles were produced in Brazil, up 1.6 percent from October and 10.1 percent year on year.

The production of cars and light vehicles increased 12.7 percent from January to November to 3.13 million units, while the production of trucks was up 58 percent, reaching 175,785 units. The production of buses stood at 43,549 units, up 34.4 percent from the same period last year.

Vehicle exports totaled 716,189 units, up 70 percent from the January to November 2009 period. The income generated by those exports reached $11.7 billion, up 58.1 percent year on year.

The rise in production reflected an increase in the employment levels in the automotive sector. According to Anfavea, 135,913 people worked in the automotive industry by late November, up 0.5 percent from October and 9.7 percent year on year.