Chinese battery and carmaker BYD sold 24,107 vehicles in January, up 79.8 percent from a year earlier. The Shenzhen-based carmaker attributed the sales increase to the government’s supportive policy for small-engine cars.

BYD, partly owned by US investor Warren Buffett, said it aims to double its car sales this year to 400,000 units.

The company, which is also a leading producer of battery and plug-in hybrid cars, plans to introduce more models and set up more sales outlets this year to spur sales growth.