Toyota, Nissan global output up in May

Nissan said it exported 55,880 vehicles, a 93.4 percent gain, from Japan in the month, while global sales grew 11.0 percent to 329,637 units.

Honda Motor Co., however, said its global output fell 3.7 percent to 316,674 vehicles in May, despite having hit company production records in China and Asia for the month. Production in Japan fell for the ninth straight month to 92,358 units.

Exports from Japan to North America fell, though shipments to Asia and Europe posted solid gains, Honda said.

Hiroshima-based Mazda Motor Corp., said global production climbed 14.2 percent to 105,654 vehicles.

Mazda, an affiliate of Ford Motor Co., said domestic production jumped 19.9 percent, while overseas production dropped 7.2 percent on production changes ahead of the introduction of the new Mazda6 in the U.S. It reported a 17.2 percent jump in exports in May on robust shipments to North America, Europe, Oceania and other markets.

Mitsubishi Motors Corp.'s global output declined 8.7 percent to 98,959 vehicles--the third consecutive monthly drop.

Its domestic output expanded 7.8 percent to 62,039 units, on increased production of its new Lancer sedan and Outlander compact crossover SUV for overseas markets. But overseas output fell 27.5 percent to 36,920 vehicles, as the company wound down production at Malaysia's Proton Holdings.

Driven by a 51.7 percent rise in shipments to Asia, Mitsubishi's overall exports gained 6.1 percent to 51,333 units.