beijing global automakers report surge china sales last year consumers rush take advantage tax cut small-engine cars caution 2017 would tough industry incentive roll back broad economy slow toyota motor corp ford motor co nissan motor co ltd friday report sales growth percent good 2016 although honda motor co ltd lead pack 24 percent growth toyota report 8.2 percent rise china sales last year see growth slow 2017 slightly high tax keep buyers away world big auto market expect sell least 1.2 million vehicles steady 2016 strictly volume focus would like increase volumes boost car quality keep customer base satisfy products service beijing-based toyota spokesman tell reuters honda expect sell vehicles china year forecast significantly slow growth rate 7.4 percent roughly line slow economy demand cars china get shoot arm 2016 ahead plan expiry low tax year-end sales come pressure year fall sharply give decision slowly roll back incentive instead abruptly end purchase tax cars engines 1.6 litres small china percent rise 7.5 percent year return 10 percent 2018. overall passenger car sales china could drop percent year tax cut expire dec. 31 expect grow 3-5 percent consultancy automotive foresight say analysts however caution car sales could fall first quarter consumers fear policy would end 2016 move ahead purchase instead wait 2017 late 2016 definitely saw pull forward effect engines 1.6 liter effect q1 negatively sales executive major foreign automaker tell reuters honda post big growth china sales last year among automakers report friday power steady stream new model mainly hot sport-utility vehicle segment vehicle sales honda rise 1.25 million 2016 ford report growth 11.9 percent 1.24 million vehicles premium lincoln brand car sales consistently include monthly data release ford sales total 1.27 million give edge toyota honda three however continue lag nissan motor co ltd china sales nissan sales grow 8.4 percent 1.35 million vehicles country last year general motor co volkswagen continue market leaders china thursday gm joint venture partner report sales 3.87 million vehicles china 2016 7.1 percent full-year figure come spite sales slip several brand final month gm honda toyota report year-on-year drop december news china completely end tax incentive make impact felt china sales vroom 2016 global automakers dull 2017 loom