AUTOMOBILES

Japan’s Vehicle Exports Decline: The nation’s vehicle exports fell for the 13th straight month in April, but exports to the United States rebounded, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Assn. said. Overall vehicle exports for the year to April sank 16.2% to 367,230 from year-earlier levels, hit by weak demand in Europe and the strong yen, which has prompted Japanese car makers to shift production overseas. Exports by four of Japan’s five biggest car makers fell. But Honda Motor Corp. posted a 38.7% year-on-year gain. Japan’s vehicle exports to the United States posted an 11.4% year-on-year gain to 135,147 in April, their first rise in nine months. Japan’s vehicle exports in 1993-94 fell 18.3% to 4.62 million, the second straight year of decline.