HONG KONG - Chinese auto and battery maker BYD Co. says first-half profit plunged 94 per cent as it faced tougher competition in the world's biggest auto market.
BYD said late Monday that profit sank to 16 million ($2.5 million) or 0.01 yuan (0.02 US cents) per share on a slight dip in revenue to 21.4 billion yuan.
In the same period last year, BYD reported profit of 275 million yuan or 0.12 yuan per share.
American investor Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Corp owns about 10 per cent of BYD.
The company blamed China's economic slowdown and intensifying competition among domestic auto brands, which are losing market share to foreign brands.
BYD, which also assembles mobile phone handsets for leading brands, said sales declined as the global economic slump depressed demand for smartphones.
