Car sales jump on waning tax impact

BEIJING: China’s passengervehicle sales rose for a third consecutive time last month with General Motors Co and Nissan Motor Co selling more cars as the impact of higher sales tax waned. Retail sales of cars, sport utility vehicles and multipurpose vehicles climbed 5.5 per cent to 1.7 million units last month, said the China Passenger Car Association. Consumers brought forward car purchases after the government announced it would raise the levy on small-engine cars to 7.5 per cent from five per cent from early this year.