According to a report published in The Wall Street Journal, both Toyota and Honda are reporting impressive growth in their export of automobiles from Japan for the month of May.

Toyota shipments have been steadily increasing for eighteen months in a row with Honda enjoying a twelve-month run of rising numbers.

Toyota pulled ahead of General Motors in the first quarter to become the largest auto seller in the world. The company's May exports climbed 2.9 percent to 203,265 vehicles, seeking to meet the demand for more fuel-efficient cars in the U.S., Europe, and Asia.

Honda, which occupies the spot as the second largest auto maker in Japan, saw exports rise 23 percent. Of those 59,121 vehicles, some 33,704 went to the United States, an increase of 36 percent.

Responding to the increased demand, Toyota boosted its domestic production by 322,841 vehicles and Honda pushed its output up 11.8 percent to 105.188 vehicles.

Conversely, the third-largest Japanese auto maker, Nissan, saw exports fall 31 percent and its production drop 12 percent from a year ago.

Mitsubishi exports went up 40 percent with domestic production climbing 14 percent. Mazda enjoyed a 14 percent increase in its export.

Overall, the figures support the growing dominance of the Asian auto makers in the American and European marketplace, a fact that is placing considerable strain on traditional automakers.

A key talking point on the table for the annual meeting of the Detroit Big Three and the United Auto Workers Union this fall will be a wage and benefits decrease in an effort to regain the competitive edge against their thriving Japanese rivals.