Dongfeng Motors said Dongfeng-Nissan, its joint venture with Japan's Nissan Motor, sold 40,596 units of vehicles in May, up 56 percent year-on-year, according to a statement on its website.

As for the January-May sales they totaled 180,321 units, up 41 percent year-on-year, said the statement.

The Guangzhou-based joint venture received effective orders for 50,988 units of vehicles in May, and by the end of that month, it had cleared its entire inventory.

Dongfeng Motors also said in a separate statement that sales of its mid trucks and heavy duty trucks reached 18,230 units in May, and Jan-May sales amounted to 62,550 units, making it the leader of this sector.