Mumbai, Jan 1 (IANS): Leading passenger automobile manufacturer Maruti Suzuki on Friday reported an 8.5 percent rise in its total sales for last month.

The company sold 119,149 units during the month under review - up from an off-take of 109,791 units in the corresponding month of 2014.

The automobile manufacturer's sales during November rose by 9.7 percent year-on-year to 120,824 units.

Domestic sales during the month under review increased by 13.5 percent at 111,333 units from 98,109 units sold during December 2014. 

However, exports plunged by 33.1 percent in the month under review with 7,816 units being shipped out -- down from 11,682 units of the company sold abroad during the corresponding month of 2014.

The sales of passenger car segment surged 11.6 percent to 91,043 units sold during last month - from 81,564 units in the like period of 2014.

The company's passenger car segment comprises of brands like Alto, WagonR, Swift, Ritz, Celerio, Baleno, Dzire, Dzire Tour, SX4 and Ciaz.

The off-take of utility vehicles which comprises of brands like Gypsy, Ertiga, Grand Vitara and S-Cross rose by 58.8 percent at 9,168 units from sales of 5,774 units during December 2014.

The sales in the van segment, which includes Omni and Eeco, increased by 3.3 percent at 11,122 units from an off-take of 10,771 units in the corresponding month of 2014.

In addition, the automobile manufacturer reported an 11 percent rise in its total sales for 2015.

The company's overall sales stood at 1,415,558 units during last year from an off-take of 1,270,573 units in 2014.

Domestic sales during the calendar year under review increased by 12 percent at 1,289,128 units from 1,152,128 units sold during 2014. 

The company's exports last year rose by 6.30 percent to 126,430 units being shipped-out -- up from 118,445 units sold abroad during 2014.

“2015 was a year of transformation for Maruti Suzuki. The company set up premium channel Nexa for new products like S Cross and Baleno and launched hybrid Ciaz and Ertiga," said R.S. Kalsi, executive director for marketing and sales with Maruti Suzuki.

"The popular gear shift technology was introduced to Wagon R, stepped up customer safety and strengthened its market share to over 47 percent. The company posted record 14 lakh total sales in FY 2015 its highest ever in a calendar year."

The company's scrip at the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE) was up by 0.74 percent at Rs.4,649.50 around 1.45 p.m. from its previous close of Rs.4,615.35 on Thursday.