The number of sport utility vehicles (SUVs) sold in China rose 58.6 percent year-on-year in the first 10 months of 2007, to 302,846 units, according to the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers.

Great Wall Motor, the first privately-owned auto company on the Chinese mainland to be listed in Hong Kong, ranked first with SUV sales of 53,063 units, the association's statistics showed.

Other companies producing SUVs include Chery Auto, Hyundai Tucson and Dongfeng Honda.

The association did not provide data on SUV exports.