Mexico's auto industry saw a slow start to the second quarter as production, exports and domestic sales fell sharply in April from the year-ago month.

The Mexican Auto Industry Association, AMIA, said Tuesday that production fell 47% from April 2008 to 100,421 units, while exports fell 41% to 85,121 units.

Domestic sales were down 38% from the year-ago month to 51,394 units.

"The crisis continues affecting the world auto industry, influenced by financial and economic difficulties that most world economies are going through," AMIA said in its monthly report.

-By Paul Kiernan, Dow Jones Newswires; (5255) 5001 5726, paul.kiernan@dowjones.com