SHANGHAI, Feb 10 (Reuters) - China's car sales in January fell 7.76 percent from a year earlier, official data showed on Tuesday, as the country's economy slowed, but month-on-month sales improved bolstered by the government's policy incentives.

Sales of passenger cars came to 610,600 units last month, up 4.44 percent from December when 584,600 passenger cars were sold, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers said on Tuesday.

Total vehicle sales -- including cars, buses and trucks -- fell 14.35 percent year-on-year to 735,500 units in that month and was off 0.83 percent month-on-month, it said.

China, the world's fastest growing major auto market, had posted car sales growth above 20 percent for three years in a row until slowing economic growth began to erode demand last year.

Car sales growth slowed to a single-digit rate in 2008 for the first time in at least 10 years.

Below is a breakdown for sales in January.

JANUARY sales pct change

Category (on year)

All vehicles 735,500 -14.35

Cars 610,600 - 7.76

JANUARY sales*

Car maker

-SAIC-GM-Wuling 69,815

-Shanghai Volkswagen 40,642

-FAW Volkswagen 38,771

-*Chongqing Changan 38,079

-Beijing Hyundai 35,183

* No percentage comparisons were provided.

* Chongqing Changan Automobile Co's 000625.SZ January sales excludes the sales of its affiliates, including its car venture with Ford Motor F.N and Mazda Motor 7261.T . Note: SAIC-GM-Wuling is a joint venture between General Motors Corp GM.N and SAIC Motor Corp 600104.SS , China's largest car maker and Liuzhou Wuling Automobile.

Shanghai Volkswagen is a joint venture between Volkswagen AG VOWG.DE and SAIC, while FAW Volkswagen is the German automaker's tie-up with FAW Group.

Chongqing Changan Automobile is a mid-sized Chinese automaker.