Domestic production of cars, trucks and buses fell 0.4 percent in April from the same month last year to 774,261 units, down for the second straight month, due to sluggish domestic car sales, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Wednesday.

Output of cars dropped by 2.8 percent to 641,869 units, down for the third consecutive month, while production of trucks rose 13.9 percent to 127,733 units, up for the fourth straight month.

Currently, more and more users are purchasing new trucks that meet tougher regulations on exhaust gas emissions from diesel vehicles that will take effect in October in the Tokyo metropolitan area, an association official said. In addition, truck exports for other parts of Asia rose in April, he said.

Production of buses in April fell 1.8 percent from the same month last year to 4,659 units.

The monthly figure brought the overall output of all vehicle types for the January-April period to 3.47 million units, up 1.8 percent from the same period in 2002.

The association said Japan's 12 automakers' exports of cars, trucks and buses climbed 2.1 percent in April from the same month last year to 398,700 units, the first increase in two months.

The association attributed the increase to thriving sales in China and some Southeast Asian countries as well as favorable effects of their new models in Europe.

Europe-bound exports jumped 14.4 percent to 95,250 units, up for the eighth consecutive month, while those bound for Asian markets rose 5.7 percent to 42,411 units, up for the 13th straight month.

Exports to the United States rose 0.4 percent to 144,042 units, the first increase in three months.

Shipments of cars increased 2.4 percent to 344,772 units, the first rise in two months, while those of trucks rose 1 percent to 50,390 units, up for the 16th straight month.