The combined market share by Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate Kia Motors Corp. edged up in China in May from a year ago, industry data showed Thursday.

Data compiled by the China Passenger Car Association showed that the two South Korean carmakers sold a combined 150,450 units in May, accounting for 9.2 percent share in the world’s largest auto market.


The figures represent a 0.2 percentage point increase from a year earlier. It marked the first time that the combined market share by Hyundai and Kia has gone up in five months since December.

The upturn was driven by the strong sales of sports utility vehicles. The two carmakers sold a combined 53,348 SUVs in May, up 85.4 percent from a year earlier.

German carmaker Volkswagen took first place with 18.4 percent there, followed by GM with 10.4 percent. (Yonhap)