Tata Motors Ltd has reported a 49.8 per cent rise in total sales, including exports, at 28,302 vehicles in September compared to 18,885 units sold in same period last year.

In the six months ended September 2003 (H1) the sales rose by 44.5 per cent at 1,38,522 vehicles (95,876 units in September 2002), TML said in a release in Mumbai on Thursday.

The company sold 15,154 commercial vehicles, representing an increase of 61.1 per cent over September 2002 sales.

Total commercial vehicles sales in H1 stood at 68,467 units (48,219 vehicles).

Sales of medium and heavy commercial vehicles grew by 37.9 per cent at 44,378 units in H1 while that of LCVs at 24,089 units increased by 50.09 per cent.

The company's exports in September were 1,180 units (899 units) while cumulative export sales for April-September were 7,322 vehicles (4,541 vehicles) sold in the H1 of last year.

The passenger car business unit achieved a sale of 13,006 vehicles in September in the domestic market, a growth of 40.5 per cent. Cumulative sales for the fiscal at 66,977 units have grown by 44 per cent.

Indica registered a sale of 7,539 units in September and at 39903 units in H1 have grown by 14 per cent.

Indigo sales were 2,469 units for the month and 13,266 for the six months of the financial year.