India's biggest carmaker Maruti Udyog Ltd on Wednesday said domestic sales grew 32.2 per cent at 42,480 units in August 2004 as its compact cars notched up impressive numbers.

Sales of MUL's bread-and-butter model Maruti 800, however, dipped 27.4 per cent at 8,713 units, a company statement said.

Maruti's sales were affected due to the transporters' strike during the month, the statement said.

• India's top selling cars
  

Sales of Omni van and Versa went up by 34.4 per cent at 5,389 units.

The company's three premium small cars -- Alto, WagonR and Zen -- posted a rise of 76.8 per cent at 20,950 units.

Mid-size sedans Baleno and Esteem witnessed a rise of 104.6 per cent at 2,472 units.

However, in the multi-purpose vehicle category, sales of Gypsy and Vitara dived 64.1 per cent at 136 units.

Exports during the month surged by 79.6 per cent at 4,820 units. Cumulative exports for the first five months of the current fiscal dipped marginally by 0.6 per cent at 20,304 units.

Domestic cumulative (April-August 2004) sales of Maruti went up 17.8 per cent at 209,000 units.