Sales of BYD (002594.SZE) vehicles, including plug-in hybrid and electric cars, rose sixfold in the year’s first half, The Wall Street Journal reported. However H1 profits, totaling RMB361 million (US$58.7) took a 15% hit compared to last year thanks to poor sales of gasoline-powered cars – down 27% – and losses in the company’s solar-panel division. Meanwhile sales for the company’s electric and hybrid vehicles totaled about 7,600, perhaps reflecting the niche nature of such autos in China, as well as their current expense. A price tag of RMB380,000 on BYD’s flagship electric car falls well beyond the range of most Chinese.