Domestic production of cars, trucks and buses in Japan increased 11.1 percent in April from a year earlier for the third consecutive monthly gain, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association said Thursday.

Automakers produced a total of 791,107 vehicles in the month thanks to an estimated 20 percent rise in exports. Domestic demand fell 1.3 percent to 408,910 units.

Output of passenger cars with engines larger than 2000cc surged 19.3 percent to 259,466 units while that of smaller passenger cars rose 12.2 percent to 296,727 units. Minicars with engines up to 660cc edged down 0.8 percent to 101,289 units.