TOKYO (MarketWatch) -- Major Japanese automakers on Thursday reported more declines from a year ago in global vehicle production and domestic sales for the month of May, but exports showed hints of a turnaround. Toyota Corp the world's top automaker, reported that global vehicle production -- including output from its subsidiaries Daihatsu Motor Co. and Hino Motors Ltd. -- fell by 37.9% in May from a year ago, to 501,685 units. May vehicle output in Japan, including the two subsidiaries, was down 39.9%, and domestic sales fell 21.4% compared with May 2008 levels. Toyota's total exports for the month were down 52.1% at 105,845 units against the year-earlier period. But that was better than the year-on-year decline of 70.3% reported in April, when exports totaled just 76,224 units. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/japanese-car-exports-improve-in-may