General Motors said sales of its passenger vehicles in China fell for the first time ever in 2008, the Wall Street Journal reported. Sales at Shanghai General Motors, the American manufacturer’s Chinese joint venture, fell 7% in 2008 to 445,709 units, from 479,427 units a year earlier. Total sales, which include imported cars and commercial vehicles, were up 6.1% year-on-year, compared with 19% growth in 2007 and 32% growth in 2006. Auto sales in China grew more slowly overall, up 8.52% in the first 11 months of 2008. Some auto manufacturers reported a slight rebound in sales in December, but no figures are yet available.