STRONG demand for BYD Co. electric vehicles in China, the world’s biggest market for battery-powered cars, has triggered an 8,312% jump in net cash flow from operations, underpinning the Shenzhen-based automaker’s strongest first quarter in six years.

The company said the 11.9 billion yuan (US$1.8 billion) of net cash flow from operating activities it reported for the three months through March 31 in earnings released Wednesday — the highest ever recorded in a first quarter — was mostly spurred by cash “received from sales of goods and provision of services.”

Bridget McCarthy, a market research analyst at hedge fund Snow Bull Capital Inc., which focuses on green and high-tech firms, said given BYD’s first-quarter net cash flows from operating activities have always been weak, “such a high print really sets the tone for the year.”

In the first quarter, BYD delivered 286,329 new energy vehicles (NEVs), up more than 400% on the same period of 2021.

McCarthy said the company’s target of selling between 1.5 million to 2 million NEVs in 2022 could reflect an even more “impressive” growth trajectory against the backdrop of soaring material prices for battery cells.

BYD’s net income rose 241% to 808.4 million yuan in the three months while sales increased 63% to 66.8 billion yuan, BYD said in its annual report.(SD-Agencies)