GEELY Automobile Holdings Ltd, the Chinese maker of US$5,000 compacts, reported profit more than doubled in the second half as a revamped version of the Free Cruiser car helped boost sales.

Net income for the six months ended December 31 rose to HK$232 million (US$30 million), from HK$88 million a year earlier, according to Bloomberg News calculations. Sales rose 24 percent to HK$71.6 million.