Hero Honda Motors on Friday said its motorcycle sales surged by 21 per cent in October 2003 to over 200,000 units from 165,066 units in the same month last year.

The October sales stood higher by 27 per cent as compared to 157,583 motorcycles sold in September, a company statement said in New Delhi.

Claiming it as the highest-ever sales recorded by any two-wheeler maker in one month in a single country in the world, Hero Honda said retail sales crossed 250,000 units during October.

The increased sales has moved up the company's market share to over 47 per cent in October from 43 per cent a year-ago.

Hero Honda, a joint venture between the Hero Group and Japan's Honda Motor Co, attributed the growth to strong demand, especially of the recently-launched variants Splendor+, Passion Plus and CD-Dawn.

"With these superb results, we are ever more confident that we will retain the World No.1 title for the 3rd consecutive year," Hero Honda chairman Brijmohan Lall said.