SHANGHAI: A sharp drop in first-half profit at the biggest Chinese carmaker underlined how slowing economic growth and higher .fuel prices are putting the brakes on the Chinese auto sector. SAIC Motor, which runs major manufacturing joint ventures with General Motors and Volkswagen, said Saturday that net profit fell 28 percent from a year earlier to 1.97 billion yuan, or $288 million, in the first six months of2008. In the second quarter, profit plunged 53 percent to 724.58 million yuan, according to Reuters calculations. "Since the second quarter, growth of the domestic vehicle market has clearly slowed, and because of delays in introducing own-brand models, sales have not hit their targets," SAIC said.