New Delhi, Mar 1: Car market leader Maruti Suzuki India Ltd today reported a marginal increase in domestic sales in February at 59,311 units as against 59,095 units in the corresponding month last year.

The company said this 0.4 per cent increase is due to customers postponing their purchase decision in anticipation of the excise duty cut in the budget.

Finance Minister P Chidambaram yesterday proposed to bring down excise duty on small cars to 12 per cent from the previous 16 per cent. Maruti has decided to pass on the complete benefit of the excise cut to customers and has cut prices of its small cars in the range of Rs 6,500 to Rs 18,030.

In the A2 segment, which comprises of hatchbacks Alto, Zen, Wagon-R and Swift, the company sold 44,059 units in February, up 2.7 per cent from a year ago. All four models in the segment are eligible for excise duty benefits.

The company sold 1,958 cars in the A3 segment comprising sedans SX4 and Esteem, up 8.9 per cent over 1,798 units in February last year, it said in a statement.

In the A1 segment, comprising entry-level hatch M800, sales slipped 3.5 per cent to 5,745 units as compared with 5,955 units in the same month last year, while sales in the C segment that consists of Omni and Versa dipped 9.9 per cent to 7,268 units.

MSIL sold 281 units of its MUVs Gypsy and Grand Vitara during February, down 21.9 per cent over the same month last year.

The company's exports during the month jumped 15.5 per cent to 4,511 units as against 3,904 units in the same month last year.