New Delhi, Nov 1 (IANS): Weak demand and a crippling labour strike at its Manesar plant led to a 53.2 percent fall in the October sales of leading auto car maker Maruti Suzuki, the company said Tuesday.

Total sales were logged at 55,595 units, a 53.2 percent drop from the 118,908 vehicles in October 2010.

The car maker sold 55,595 vehicles in the domestic market, a 52.5 percent drop from 107,555 units it sold in the corresponding month of 2010.

"The labour unrest at company's Manesar plant during October 2011 adversely impacted the production and sales numbers. The company lost production of over 40,000 units (Gurgaon and Manesar) in the month," Maruti said in a statement.

It manufactures one of its best selling models -- the Swift at the Manesar plant. The facility produces some 1,200 vehicles a day on an average.

During October, exports fell a whopping 63.6 percent to 4,137 units compared to 11,353 vehicles in the like month previous year.

Signifying a weakening in consumer demand, the company's smaller sized vehicles too fell. The mini passenger vehicle segment (Maruti 800, Alto, A-Star and Wagon R) saw sales drop 54.9 percent in October.

The compact segment, which has Swift, Estilo and Ritz models, saw a 56.1 percent fall in sales in the month.

These figures come in a month of big festivals including Diwali, when Indian consumers are usually on a shopping spree.

The fortnight long strike at the Manesar plant, which spread to other plants like the parent company Suzuki's powertrain factory too, was called off Oct 21 after the company reinstated suspended workers.