MUMBAI, India (AP) -- India's auto sales surged 50.2 percent compared to a slow January last year and thanks to accelerated buying in anticipation of rising taxes and interest rates.

Sales of passenger cars rose 32.3 percent to 145,905 units while commercial vehicle sales zoomed 130.8 percent to 53,447 vehicles, the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers said Tuesday.

Sales of other passenger vehicles, like utility vehicles, rose 54.0 percent, to 41,700 units.

Many economists expect the government to begin to roll back tax cuts introduced during the global financial crisis when the new budget is unveiled Feb. 26.

The central bank last month raised cash reserve requirements, worried that India's faster-than-expected rebound is stoking inflation. The bank also said it would raise key interest rates, as it moves away from a crisis policy footing.

Indeed, some automakers -- like Tata Motors, India's top commercial vehicle maker -- have hiked consumer prices as they struggle with rising commmodities costs.

"We remain positive on the Indian auto sector," Angel Broking analyst Vaishali Jajoo said in a research note. "However, there exists a near-term fear on account of rollback of excise duty or fiscal stimulus in the upcoming union budget, and likely margin pressure due to higher raw material costs going forward."

Exports rose 83.0 percent, to 42,792 units, the trade group said. Exports of commercial vehicles more than doubled, to 4,176 units, while passenger vehicle exports rose 78.7 percent, to 38,616 units.