FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) _ DaimlerChrysler AG said Wednesday that Chrysler Group sales outside North America rose 24 per cent in May to 20,553 vehicles.

Year-to-date sales were 91,412 vehicles, up 16 per cent compared with the same period of 2006, the company said in a statement.

``The continued growth of the international vehicle portfolio supports our recovery and transformation plan,'' said Michael Manley, Chrysler Group executive vice-president of international sales.

Chrysler Group sales outside North America currently account for approximately eight per cent of the company's total global sales.

Earlier this month, DaimlerChrysler reported the Chrysler Group's U.S. sales rose 4.3 per cent in May.

DaimlerChrysler agreed last month to sell an 80.1 per cent stake in its money-losing Chrysler unit to the private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP for about $7.5 billion.