Hyundai Motors’ May sales rose 6.6% from a year earlier, lifted by healthy exports of Sonata sedans and Tucson SUVs to the US market.

Hyundai, the world's seventh-largest carmaker, sold 202,087 vehicles in May, up189,644 on a year earlier. Exports jumped 9.2% to 156,266 units, while local sales fell 1.4% to 45,821 units.

Total sales declined 5.1% from the previous month, as it had to halt production at its Chinese plant for rebuilding work that will double its capacity to 300,000 units a year, a Hyundai spokesman said.

"The US sales were robust, helped by rising popularity of Sonata sedans and other SUVs. Had it not been for production suspension in China, sales would have risen from April as well," a spokesman said.

Hyundai expects its US sales to rise about 16% this year to 485,000 vehicles, winning market share from General Motors and Ford Motor Co.