Domestic production of motor vehicles in 2000 topped 10 million for the first time in two years, thanks to a pickup in domestic demand and strong exports to North America and Southeast Asia, an industry association said Friday.

Automakers built 10,144,847 vehicles in 2000, up 2.5 percent for the first annual increase in three years, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said.

Production of passenger cars increased for the second consecutive year to 8,363,485, up 3.3 percent over the previous year.