HONG KONG -(MarketWatch)- Chinese car maker Geely Automobile Holdings Ltd. (0175.HK) said Monday its first-half net profit rose 17% from a year earlier, lifted by higher car sales.

Net profit for the six months ended June 30 totaled CNY937.6 million, up from CNY804.8 million, the Zhejiang-based company said. Revenue rose 14% to CNY10.54 billion from CNY9.24 billion.

Like last year, Geely didn't recommend a first-half dividend.

Geely said it sold 213,381 units in the first half--a 9% increase. Sales during the period accounted for 44% of Geely's full-year sales target of 480,000 cars.