Mazda sales up 4.2%

[Stéphane Dumas]

no one had posted about Mazda sales yet, I hope someone didn't beat me at the finish line
http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/pr.../06/03/LATU086
http://www.autospies.com/news/Mazda-...-Up-4-2-30683/

Mazda Reports Best May Since 1996 With Sales Up 4.2 Percent
IRVINE, Calif., June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported its best May in 12 years with 27,921 units sold in the U.S., a 4.2 percent increase over last year. Year-to-date sales are up 1.9 percent with 129,370 vehicles sold.

"Soaring fuel prices are driving customers to make sensible transportation choices; it's a new marketplace," said Jim O'Sullivan, President and CEO, MNAO. "We're finding more and more buyers are shopping for the stylish, fun-to-drive, and affordable to own and operate cars and crossover SUVs that we build."

Heading Mazda's sales numbers and increases for the month, both the MAZDA3 compact sedan and the MAZDA5 multi-activity vehicle reported best-ever May sales. MAZDA3 sales were up 13.0 percent with sales of 12,788, while the redesigned MAZDA5 multi-activity vehicle reported sales of 2,072, up 43.0 percent over last year and 46.4 percent year-to-date.

The popular MAZDA6 showed a 9.1 percent increase in sales for May with 4,921 units sold. Mazda recently announced its all-new MAZDA6 sports sedan will launch later this year, with an expected on-sale date in late summer, 2008. The 2009 MAZDA6 features a larger interior and exterior size, more powerful engines and unique styling.

Mazda's crossover SUV lineup continues its strong sales momentum. CX-9, winner of the 2008 North American Truck of the Year and 2008 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year, reported sales of 2,448 units, up 29.3 percent versus last year. CX-7 recorded 2,529 units sold while Tribute sold 1,264 units in May, up 13.0 percent.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) celebrated its best-ever May with sales of 1,719 vehicles, up 14 percent versus last year. On a year-to-date basis, MMdM reported 8,375 total sales, accounting for a 34 percent increase.

Mazda Canada, Inc. reported a strong sales month for May with sales of 9,673 units, down slightly from its record-breaking May 2007 sales.

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and in Puerto Rico by Mazda de Puerto Rico in San Juan.



Mazda North American Operations - May
2008

Month-To-Date Year-To-Date

May May % May May %
2008 2007 Change 2008 2007 Change

Mazda3 12,788 11,316 13.0% 49,129 51,288 (4.2)%
Mazda5 2,072 1,449 43.0% 10,561 7,213 46.4%
Mazda6 4,921 4,509 9.1% 29,378 28,870 1.8%
MX-5 Miata 1,396 1,959 (28.7)% 6,085 7,995 (23.9)%
RX-8 309 585 (47.2)% 1,548 2,791 (44.5)%
CX-7 2,529 3,672 (31.1)% 13,999 16,352 (14.4)%
CX-9 2,448 1,894 29.3% 11,393 7,362 54.8%
Tribute 1,264 1,119 13.0% 6,568 3,575 83.7%
B-Series Truck 194 286 (32.2)% 709 1,355 (47.7)%
MPV - - N/A - 121 (100.0)%

Total Vehicles

CARS 21,486 19,818 8.4% 96,701 98,157 (1.5)%

TRUCKS 6,435 6,971 (7.7)% 32,669 28,765 13.6%

TOTAL 27,921 26,789 4.2% 129,370 126,922 1.9%


MEMO:

IMPORT CAR 16,565 15,309 8.2% 67,323 69,287 (2.8)%
IMPORT TRUCK 4,977 5,566 (10.6)% 25,392 23,835 6.5%
IMPORT TOTAL 21,542 20,875 3.2% 92,715 93,122 (0.4)%

DOMESTIC CAR 4,921 4,509 9.1% 29,378 28,870 1.8%
DOMESTIC TRUCK 1,458 1,405 3.8% 7,277 4,930 47.6%
DOMESTIC TOTALS 6,379 5,914 7.9% 36,655 33,800 8.4%

Note: MPV & Protege are discontinued vehicles.
SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

[BrickTamland]

I am glad to see the 5 finally getting some momentum. It is a great vehicle that is not marketed enough and sells well below where it should.

[Aprime]

Originally Posted by BrickTamland

I am glad to see the 5 finally getting some momentum. It is a great vehicle that is not marketed enough and sells well below where it should.

lol, the situation's completely different over here.

It's not uncommon to see a (sub)compact followed by a Mazda 5 in people's driveways (for instance, on my girlfriend's street which is extremely short (it's a dead-end) there are... What, 5 of them?).

I wonder how GM's MPV offerings are going to be.

[Ming]

Finally, it took $4.00/gallon for a vehicle like the Mazda5 to start making sense to people. An old co-worker of mine is buying one for herself and trading in a Toyota pickup.

This can be a positive for GM. They have the Zafira and Meriva and could build them here (or in Mexico for sale here). But do the white hairs in Detroit have the foresight to bring more vehicles like this to the US market? Or will they insist that we want huge crossovers with V6's?

Americans "don't want 4-cyl minivans"? Look at the 5's gains.

[Minnesota Nice]

I suspect much of the Mazda3's increased sales are due to people who are finding out that the new Civics are build like garbage moving over to the next best alternative.

However, in retrospect, the Mazda3 was the better alternative the whole time, sadly.

[63GrandSport001]

I really like the Mazda 3 over the civic and Corolla as I feel that it offers much more style inside and out then those and a more pleasing driving experience.

[Aprime]

Originally Posted by Ming

Finally, it took $4.00/gallon for a vehicle like the Mazda5 to start making sense to people. An old co-worker of mine is buying one for herself and trading in a Toyota pickup.

This can be a positive for GM. They have the Zafira and Meriva and could build them here (or in Mexico for sale here). But do the white hairs in Detroit have the foresight to bring more vehicles like this to the US market? Or will they insist that we want huge crossovers with V6's?

Americans "don't want 4-cyl minivans"? Look at the 5's gains.

It IS coming, it's only a matter of knowing whether it will come early enough or not.

[genjy]

Last weekend, I drove...

• Myself
• My wife
• My brother
• My 2-year old son
• My mom
• 100 lbs of cargo

...from Los Angeles to Victorville in my Mazda5.

Victorville is about 4000ft above sea level.

The Mazda5 wasn't a speed demon climbing the hills, but it had enough power to unstressfully maintain about 70-80mph uphill.

What a great vehicle for under $18k.


Family party at my house. Mine is the dark grey one.

[civilzues]

I can see why the mazda3 is doing well. it's a very peppy car. I get better FE then the EPA said I would. it is still the benchmark after it's introduction, which was before the Cobalt.

[SUPERBADD75]

good to see Mazda doing well. they've got such great product and yet still seem to struggle for the attention they deserve.

[Aprime]

Originally Posted by civilzues

I can see why the mazda3 is doing well. it's a very peppy car. I get better FE then the EPA said I would. it is still the benchmark after it's introduction, which was before the Cobalt.

To quote many:

"Can't imagine how hard it's going to be to design the next one."

[TheGeneral]

Mazda didn't do better because of fuel economy. Mazda is right in the middle of the pack in regards to fuel economy but still beats an SUV or Truck anyday.

[Ambalanche]

Originally Posted by civilzues

I can see why the mazda3 is doing well. it's a very peppy car. I get better FE then the EPA said I would. it is still the benchmark after it's introduction, which was before the Cobalt.

Yep, I drove one as a loaner one time. Very impressive and still is even in it's last year before the new one comes out. That's the way I only WISH GM was designing it's small cars!

[igotzzoom]

Love the 5. I'd love it even more if Mazda sold the turbodiesel here. Yeah, yeah, I know it's $5 a gallon, but if it improved 25-30% over the already good mileage of the gasser, it'd still be a winner in my book.

[Extreme4x4]

Diesel here is 24% higher than regular. A diesel engine costs more. The maintenance is more expensive.

In my book, it would have to get better than 25-30% better economy, to be worth the cost.