Two-wheeler manufacturers in the country, including industry leader Hero Honda, Bajaj, TVS Motors and Yahama, have reported higher domestic sales in March 2009, despite the market slowdown amidst the global economic downturn.

Two-wheeler maker Yamaha Motor reported a 45.26 per cent increase in its March sales, at 14,558 units as against 10,022 units sold in the same month last year.

The country's largest two-wheeler maker, Hero Honda, reported a 10 per cent increase in sales in March, at 3,53,342 units, as against 3,20,594 units the same month last year.

"It's wonderful to note that sales figures of motorcycles have started growing after the recent slump. A careful analysis shows that Yamaha is growing at the fastest pace amongst all players," India Yamaha Motor managing director and CEO Yukimine Tsuji said in a statement.

Hero Hond's total sales for the financial year 2008-09 stood at 37,22,000 units as against 33,37,142 units the previous year, a growth of 12 per cent.

The company said it now commands an over 57 per cent share in the 75,00,000+ unit domestic market.

''An unprecedented share of over 57 per cent in the domestic motorcycle market, particularly when the industry has been witnessing a massive slowdown on account of the impact of recessionary trends across the globe,"  Hero Honda Motors managing director and chief executive Pawan Munjal said.

TVS Motor Co, India's third-largest two wheeler maker, reported a 4.2 per cent rise in March sales, helped by robust demand for its scooters and increased exports.

Total two-wheeler sales in March stood at 121,988 units, compared with 117,045 units in the same period last year, the company said in a statement.

Scooters sales increased 44 per cent to 22,975 units in March, led mainly by the recently launched TVS Scooty Streak, the company said.

The firm exported 16,340 units of two-wheelers in March against 13,070 units in the corresponding period of the previous year, a growth of 25 per cent.

However, motorcycle sales fell 8.5 per cent in March to 55,754 units, it added.

"Cumulative growth in sales for the financial year April 2008 to March 2009 stood at 3 per cent," TVS said.

The country's second largest two-wheeler maker Bajaj Auto, is yet to release its sales figures for March 2009.