Data from China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) shows the first-half sales of new energy vehicles in the country reached 366 units, a 107.95 percent increase over the same period last year.

The association says new-energy vehicles include those powered by alternative liquid fuels, hybrid energy, natural gas, all-new fuel cells or electricity besides the fuel and diesel.

Total vehicle sales expanded by 18.5 percent to 5.18 million units from January to June from a year earlier, but the growth is 4.78 percentage points lower than the same period last year, CAAM said earlier this month.

China sold 3.61 million passenger vehicles in the first six months, representing a growth of 17.07 percent over the same period in 2007.

Half-year production also increased by 16.7 percent to 5.19 million units, compared to 22 percent a year earlier.