The country's two largest commercial vehicle manufacturers -- Tata Motors and Ashok Leyland -- on Wednesday posted significant increases in July sales.

Tata Motors posted a 59.8 per cent increase in sales of commercial vehicles in July 2003 over July 2002, while Ashok Leyland notched a 54.8 per cent rise.

Tata Motors sold 11,386 commercial vehicles in the domestic market in July 2003, against 7,122 in July 2002. Ashok Leyland sold 3,269 vehicles in July 2003, against 2,067 in July 2002.

The two companies posted an increase in their cumulative sales for the April-July period as well. Tata Motors clocked a 34.4 per cent rise from 28,344 vehicles in April-July 2002 to 38,107 in April-July 2003. Ashok Leyland's cumulative sales for the same period were up 19 per cent at 11,808 vehicles.

Tata Motors posted an 18.7 per cent rise increase in sales of its passenger vehicles in the domestic market at 12,179 in July 2003 over sales in July 2002.

Eicher Motors has posted a 16 per cent rise in sales in July 2003 at 1,056 units, against 914 units a year earlier. Total sales, including exports, during the first four months of this financial year grew 19 per cent to 4,207 units.