Hyundai Motor India Limited(HMIL), the country's second largest car manufacturer and the largest passenger car exporter, has registered a total sales of 54,354 cars in June, up by 3.5 per cent from the corresponding month last year when 52,521 cars were sold.

Announcing the new sales figure, HMIL Director, Marketing and Sales Arvind Saxena today said domestic sales were increased by a marginal 0.2 per cent, primarily because of higher petrol prices, to 30,450 units from 30.402 units in June last year, while exports were up by a healthy 8,1 per cent to 23,904 units from 22,119 units during the correcponding period of 2011.

"The general inflationary trend coupled with high fuel prices and higher interest rates are still keeping the sentiment low,' Mr Saxena said and pointed out that unless any triggers got activated, sentiment was not expected to improve much soon.

However, about the growth in exports, Mr Saxena said there was a mich higher demand in South America and Africa.'Eon is being particularly well received in Africa and the i10 is strong in South America." Referring to the segment-wise cumulative sales for June 2012, he said while A2 segment, comprising Eon, Santro, i10 and i20, sold 44,046 units, A3 Segment of Accent and Verna sold 10,182 vehicles.

In addition Sonata of A5 segment sold 39 units and SUV Santa sold altogether 87 units last month. HMIL currently exports to more than 120 countries across EU, Africa, Middle East, Latin America and the Asia Pacific.