Chery Automobile said on Tuesday that sales of its only sport-utility vehicle (SUV) model Tiggo hit 5,420 in June, breaking the monthly record it set for China's SUV market three months ago.

The Hover, produced by Hebei-based Great Wall Motor Co., followed with sales of 4,586, trailed by the Honda CR-V with 4,084.

Swift sales of the Tiggo, which is priced between 89,000 yuan (US$ 11,560) and 129,000 yuan, made Chery the runner-up in terms of SUV sales in the first half.

The company, based in the east China city of Wuhu, sold 24,710 SUVs in the first half and held a 14.8-percent market share, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM).

Great Wall secured first place in the SUV sales list in the first half, with sales of 29,738 -- including 26,270 Hovers -- and a 17.8-percent market share.

Chery and Great Wall, both of which develop and produce indigenous models, saw their SUV models lead the domestic market, with the Hyundai Tucson and Honda CR-V close behind.

The 10-year-old Chery, originally a subcompact car producer, launched the Tiggo on the domestic market in 2005.

(Xinhua News Agency July 18 2007)