More than 12,000 cars, including three luxury ones worth more than Bt20 million, were ordered at the country's largest automotive exhibition.

In terms of orders made at the Bangkok International Motor Show, which opened at the Bangkok International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Bitec) last Monday, Toyota came top with more than 3,800 cars and pickup trucks ordered. The runners up were Isuzu, Honda and Chevrolet with 1,500, 1,000 and 900 respectively.

In the high-end market Mercedes-Benz got most orders with more than 420 luxury cars. BMW sold 300. The most expensive car at the show was a Bentley for Bt20 million. Bentley took three orders for its new series. Jaguar sold 10 cars, and Lexus received 50 orders for its new series.

Jaturon Komolkit, deputy chairman of the organisers, said more than 1.3 million people had attended, making it the largest automotive exhibition ever. He expected more than 300,000 people today, the last day.

He said the exhibition offered car companies an opportunity to present their new models and high technology to the public rather than to make sales. Though orders were fewer than last year's 13,000, Jaturon said he was satisfied with the the show.

Among the more than one million visitors were caretaker Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra and his son Panthongtae. Though showing interest in the Bt13-million Jaguar XK, which was debuted in Paris last September, Thaksin did not buy it, though his wife Pojaman ordered a BMW 740 before the show opened.

Many companies used the event to test the water for their new series.