More than 700,000 alternative fuel vehicles were sold in the United States during the first half of this year, according to the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, a trade group.

The category includes hybrids, clean diesel and ethanol-capable vehicles, the group said.

"Our priority is to get the word out that alternative fuel autos are on sale now, and these vehicles are the quickest way to reduce gasoline use," said Fred Webber, president and CEO of the automobile alliance.

Sales for the first half of this year pushes the total number of alternative fuel vehicles on American roads to about 9 million, the group said.

Automakers have a goal of selling 1 million of the vehicles in 2006 and 2 million by 2008, the alliance said.

Entire contents copyright 2005 by Crain Communications Inc. All rights reserved.