New Delhi, Nov. 9 (PTI): Exports of automobiles soared 67.6 per cent in the first six months of 2003-04 on the back of strong demand for cars, buses, trucks and two-wheelers in overseas markets.

Around 2.21 lakh vehicles were shipped in April-September 2003 against 1.32 lakh units in the year-ago period, data compiled by the Society Of Indian Automobile Manufacturers showed.

Car exports surged by 74.5 per cent year-on-year to 53,870 units over 30,866 units as Maruti Udyog clocked a 101.3 per cent rise in exports at 22,048 units.

Hyundai Motor India also posted a 384.4 per cent growth to 16,089 units, a majority of which comprised the compact car Santro.

Exports of the local unit of Ford Motor Company, however, dipped 11 per cent to 13,965 units in the period under review.

Tata Motors, which has recently bagged a deal to export its compact car Indica to Britain's M G Rover, recorded a 106.3 per cent rise to 1,750 cars.

Continuing their impressive run in the domestic market, exports of trucks and buses went up 15.2 per cent to 6,494 units as medium and heavy and light commercial vehicles posted 14 and 16.2 per cent growth to 2,796 and 3,698 units, respectively.

In the medium and heavy category, exports of trucks jumped 2.4 per cent to 1,324 units while that of buses increased 26.8 per cent to 1,472 units.

Exports of light trucks grew 4.4 per cent to 2,867 units, while that of light buses climbed 90.5 per cent to 831 units in April-September.

Two-wheeler exports shot up by 64.6 per cent to 1.26 lakh units as motorcycles and step-thrus clocked a 61.6 per cent growth to 88,960 units, while scooters and scooterettes surged 108.3 per cent to 25,048 units.

Scooter exports of Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India grew by over four times to 14,703 units, but that of Bajaj Auto dived by 105 per cent to 2,626 units. LML posted a 20 per cent rise to 4,438 units, while Kinetic Engineering clocked a 154.5 per cent rise to 723 units.