HUGHES: MAZDA SALES LED TO FIRING

Charlie Hughes, former president of Mazda’s North American operations, says he was fired last week by Ford because Mazda’s sales have been slower than expected under his tenure. Hughes, formerly the chief of Land Rover North America, had joined Mazda in the fall of 2000 as Ford and Mazda initiated yet another remake of the Japanese brand. The introduction of key products like the Mazda6 sedan were supposed to turn around the division’s struggling sales — but 2002 sales were off more than four percent. Ford has named Mazda exec John Mandel as acting president in Hughes’ wake.

Originally posted by Vancouver
Ford has named Mazda exec John Mandel as acting president in Hughes' wake. John Mandel should be a nervous man - being the president of MNAO is about as safe as being the drummer for Spinal Tap.

Seriously though, this move does seem a little premature, especially with the much-vaunted RX-8 just around the corner.

wanna blame the slow sale of Mazda6? blame Mazda for releasing it toward the end of the year (November I believe?)

2003 SHOULD be a lot better, as Mazda6 picks up steam, and more V6 MANUAL 6's get built (For some reason, during their first batches of builds, Mazda thinks people would want to buy the base model I4's instead of the fully loaded V6's they show in the commercials). And the release to market of the RX-8 and the X-Men movie should boost Mazda's image and visibility as well.

let's cross fingers...

I suspect this is more press speculation then actual fact. I have NEVER known a company to fire a president after only 1 year of poor sales. The entire market can confirm the economy is slumped right now, and not nearly as many people are buying cars. Be aware of what you read from the press people.

I too believe there is more to this. The Mazda 6 is a great car; but even if it does great, it can't by itself turn around 2002 sales in just a couple months. Mazda has never been a volume company like a Honda or Toyota. Maybe never will , but I believe has always had the product to do so ("MAYBE" MAZDA should look at the pitiful DEALER ratings that show them at the bottom almost every single year (if memory serves, about as low as Kia). And if they start looking at that, then they may want to consider training their sales personnel. And then maybe, just Maybe, make sure the mechanics understand their 'new technology' (like the Miller Cycle and the Renesis) so we can expect our cars to be cared for properly. I don't think it was Charlie's fault for those showings.

^ Exactly, i had to threaten to sue my dealer to make him honor my sales contract. My sister, mother and a few other relatives would love to buy Mazdas but refuse to because of the poor service from their local dealers.

Luckily, i have a choice of dealers and never have to set foot at the one that sold me my car ever again (and it won a dealer of the year award).

typical company posturing. easier to promote new sales chief's success when sales increase in 03 v. same guy who would have led 02 and 03. it just gives them an excuse to get more press time later this year.

perhaps he'll go to gm and look to pick-up the long awaited return of alfa romeo, now that gm owns part of fiat. any sales in 06 over zero since 94 would be an improvement.