China’s Largest Truck Company’s Profit Rises 40%

China’s largest truck maker, Sinotruk, boosted a first-half profit 40% as consumers rushed to buy vehicles before the introduction of a new emissions regulation, Bloomberg reported Thursday.

Net income jumped to $112.5 million in the first six months of this year, from last year's $80.7 million, the truck maker said in a Hong Kong Stock Exchange statement, Bloomberg reported.

Sales jumped 50% to $2.5 billion, Sinotruk said.

Sinotruk sold 67,694 heavy trucks in the first six months of 2008 — 57% higher than last year, Bloomberg reported.

Sales were more than double the pace of China’s industry-wide vehicle market, as drivers bought vehicles ahead of the implementation of the Euro III standard, which went into effect in July in China.