Commercial Vehicle maker Ashok Leyland announced that its total sales during the last month (May 2010) surged 229% to 6,502 units as against 1,977 units sold in the same period of last year.

The company's domestic sales surged 251.97% to 5,973 units for the month under review as compared to 1,697 units sold in May 2009.

Moreover, the company's exports during May 2010 grew by 88.92% to 529 units in May 2010 as compared to 280 units in the year-ago period.

Moreover, Ashok Leyland and Nissan, who have inked a deal for manufacturing light commercial vehicles (LCVs), are all set to launch their first product by mid-2011.

Ashok Leyland and Nissan will make 150,000 vehicles as part of first phase at their subsisting plants and said a greenfield plant was very much on the cards.

Mr. Andy Palmer, senior vice-president, Nissan Motor Company and chairman, Ashok Leyland Nissan Vehicles (ANLV), said that both partners would utilize their subsisting plants and networks to make and market vehicles and that there would not be any cross distribution of products.

"It will be different brands," he said.

Nissan will look after luxury markets, while Ashok Leyland would address the volume market. (With Inputs from Agencies)