UPDATE 2-Mexico auto exports and output rise in May

(Recasts; adds quote, details)

MEXICO CITY, June 11 (Reuters) - Mexican automobile exports in May rose 6.7 percent from the same month a year ago, manufacturers said on Monday, the first increase in six months as the industry rides out a U.S. economic slowdown.

Auto production rose 3.2 percent in May, the Mexican Automotive Industry Association (AMIA) said.

U.S. consumers buy more than half of the cars and trucks that Mexico makes, and plants producing vehicles and machinery for the United States are a key engine of Mexico's economy.

Automakers built 177,100 cars and trucks in May and exported 140,387 of them.

Despite May's increase in exports and production, the U.S. slowdown is still expected to reduce overall growth in Mexico's auto industry this year.

Last year, Mexico increased auto production by 23 percent and exports by nearly 30 percent.

"We could lower exports to 12 percent, and in production we could be at around 15 percent," said Cesar Flores, head of AMIA. "We're still not sure."

For the year to date period, production was down 5.4 percent and exports were off by 7.0 percent.

Mexico's economy is seen growing by about 3.6 percent this year after it expanded 4.8 percent last year.