Sales at Mazda Motor Europe in June were up by 9 percent versus June last year, with a volume of 28,200 units. This outperformed the European automotive industry, which saw sales down by around 4 percent, and is Mazda’s best June result in Europein 15 years.

June closed out an outstanding first half of the current calendar year (January to June) during which 12 markets achieved double-digit sales increases year-on-year and Mazda Motor Europe sold 161,500 vehicles. This is 20,700 units and 15 percent more than the first half of 2005 and one of the best half-year results in over a decade.

In June, nearly all markets achieved sales increases. Russia once again led the way, setting another single month sales record, with a volume of more than 2,800 units, up 77 percent year-

on-year. Spain also set a single month record for volume, at almost 2,000 units in June, up 17 percent. A June record was set in Italy for volume, at over 2,200 units, up 16 percent. In the UK, the Mazda brand achieved a record market share last month, predicted to be at 1.8 percent, based on a volume of 4,500 units, up 16 percent. France reported its highest volume since 1988, at 1,600 units, up 22 percent year-on-year, and Finland (incl. all three Baltic countries) achieved its highest volume since 1990, at 750 units, up 27 percent. Greece also had an excellent June, selling nearly 600 units, which is up 8 percent and represents a predicted market share of 2.1 percent, the highest since 1992.

Other markets achieving outstanding June results were Norway, up 29 per-cent, Sweden, up 27 percent and Denmark, up 7 percent. These countries make up Mazda’s Scandinaviaorganization, which saw sales jump 17 percent across the region as a result. Also having excellent June results were Austria(incl. South Eastern European countries) up 9 percent, the Czech Republicand the Netherlands, up 8 percent and 6 percent respectively.