Propelled by Maruti, Hyundai and Tata Engineering, domestic car sales in India surged 23 per cent in June 2003.

Total sales went up to 52,029 units from 42,331 units in the same month last year, according to the data released by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The cumulative (April-June 2003) sales also grew by 30.5 per cent to 1,49,701 units over 1,14,676 units sold last year.

Following an eight per cent excise duty cut to 24 per cent in the 2003-04 budget, car sales got a major boost and have been witnessing a steady rise.

Bus and truck sales rose by 25 per cent to 18,330 units as both the light and heavy vehicles clocked higher sales.

The commercial vehicle segment posted a 19.7 per cent rise to 46,899 units during the first three months of this fiscal, against 39,179 units during the corresponding period last year.

The sale of two-wheelers registered a 6.35 per cent jump to 4,19,396 units.

Motorcycle sales went up by a modest 8.86 per cent to 3,23,873 units (2,97,504 units), while scooter sales increased 6.30 per cent to 68,801 units (64,718 units).

Meanwhile, moped sales dived by 16.7 per cent to 26,722 units (32,102 units).