Hyundai Motor Co. and its smaller affiliate, Kia Motors Corp., saw their combined sales in the United States rise 6.3 percent in May, thanks to brisk sales of sport utility vehicles, industry data showed Wednesday.

The two South Korean auto giants sold a combined 133,932 units in the U.S. last month, up from 126,043 units sold in the same period last year, the data showed. The figures represented the best-ever sales for the month of May for both companies.

Hyundai's sales rose 11.6 percent to 71,006 units on the strong demand for the Santa Fe and the Tucson SUVs. The sales of Santa Fe and Tucson jumped 88 percent and 89 percent to 14,732 units and 7,369 units, respectively, the data showed.

Kia's sales rose 0.8 percent to 62,926, also led by SUV sales.

The Sportage SUV sold 8,568 units last month, a 91 percent jump from last year, while the Sorento's sales rose 11 percent to 11,914 units. (Yonhap)