ASH8

MAZDA intends to sustain its rapid sales growth in Australia and overseas by providing desirable vehicles that are daring, focused and "a cut above".

These are the sentiments of Mazda Motor Corporation’s director and senior managing executive officer in charge of marketing, sales and customer service worldwide, Daniel T Morris.

In Australia this month as part of a worldwide "tour" of Mazda distributors, Mr Morris said Mazda had found the "blueprint" to achieving sales success.

He said that the right product at the right time had been the key factor of Mazda’s growth over the last three years.

"The Mazda3 is an attractive design, a fun ride and is priced right," he said. "But what we have to do now is to keep it fresh."

Mr Morris said that a lot of companies were good at achieving success but many had difficulty maintaining it "because they don’t take risks, they become complacent".

Production for Mazda’s star small car is currently running at full capacity.

The recently released MX-5 is also selling strongly, while the Mazda5 (Premacy replacement not slated for Australia) is performing well in Japan and "looking promising in the United States and Canada".

Mr Morris said the Chinese market was also booming with 52 per cent growth this year over 2004 levels.

Key launches for the Japanese brand next year will be the replacements for the Tribute small 4WD (possibly to be called CX-5) and the B Series light truck. At least one of these vehicles is expected to make an appearance at the Detroit auto show in January.

The new-generation MPV, shown at the recent Tokyo motor show, is also due during 2006.

The mid-sized CX-7 five-seat 4WD wagon also begins its rollout during 2006, with Australia getting it in early 2007. This will be a crucial vehicle for Mazda, particularly in the United States where overall sales have been down one per cent this year.

Mazda may also be considering a smaller light-4WD wagon based on the next-generation Mazda3 platform.

Mr Morris said that there was still plenty of scope for growth in the SUV (sports utility vehicle) sector in Europe, but only for the more compact C-segment varieties such as the VW Golf-derived Beduin due in 2008.

If it comes to fruition, such a Mazda (CX-3 is a likely name) could also be on sale at the same time as the VW.

But before that you can expect a new Mazda6. Due to arrive in 2007, this car is crucial for Mazda’s growth in the US, since it will take on the all-conquering Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.

Look for a larger, longer-wheelbase car, as the next Six needs to look bigger outside and be more spacious inside.

Mazda admits that one of its challenges is to maintain the current model’s sporty and compact good looks, which could all-too-easily be sacrificed at the altar of appeasing American tastes.

On the subject of sporty cars, Mr Morris says that the RX-8’s four-seater and four-door capabilities make it more practical and usable than most sports cars, therefore maintaining its showroom appeal as it ages.

The company is also cautious as to how it proceeds with its MPS/MazdaSpeed performance division.

Calling it "zoom-zoom on steroids", Mr Morris said the company had yet to determine whether turbocharging and all-wheel drive would be key signature elements for MPS. Both are used on the Mazda6 MPS.

An MPS version of the Three has been widely speculated since prototypes of one brandishing bigger wheels, flared guards and a bonnet scoop were photographed last year.

And as far as developing niche models such as a petrol-electric hybrid model to take on the highly successful Toyota Prius, Mr Morris said: "We are a small company with limited resources ... so we don’t have that luxury or that curse (to contend with)."


What's coming from Mazda:
New MPV - mid/late 2006
New Tribute/CX-5 - late 2006
New B Series - late 2006
CX-7 - March 2007
Mazda3 MPS - early 2007
Mazda6 MkII - mid-2007
Mazda2 MkII - late 2007/early 2008
CX-3 small 4WD - late 2008
Mazda3 MkII - early 2009

From..Carsales.com.au..Dec 1, 2005

therm8

I notice no mention of the Rx-8, just as I suspected.

Sephiroth

Wtf? No mention of a 7 or a 8.

Raptor2k

Don't you guys know...we don't matter

ASH8

"On the subject of sporty cars, Mr Morris says that the RX-8’s four-seater and four-door capabilities make it more practical and usable than most sports cars, therefore maintaining its showroom appeal as it ages......"

It looks like we have to wait at least another year before any major changes to the RX-8..... I don't know that a 6 port RENISIS for the Auto and a few new colours will keep the product "fresh" enough to lift sales...I hope it does?

Does Mazda US do much in the way of Media (TV) Advertising....the 8....

In Australia there is next to nothing......apart from ethnic low cost (SBS TV) with small viewing numbers (cheap)...even those ads finished a few months ago.

CERAMICSEAL

I just hope the new trucks are going to be for the US market also. Please, pretty please.

therm8

The only time I see an 8 on TV is as a pace car for Star Mazda, though today it was an Mx-5 . It's a damn rotary race series!! I haven't seen a commercial for it in over a year.

ASH8

You would think that MNAO would want to clear all this years stocks...

Here, Mazda Australia only appear to run ads when they have vehicle stock, as soon as stocks get low they pull the ads. MA are having their best sales year in nearly 40 years and are at number 4, Mazda are the largest fully imported make.

Top selling makes Down under...2006 so far..

1. Toyota (have a local plant)
2. Holden (GM)
3. Ford
4. Mazda
5. Mitsubishi (have a local plant)

rotarygod

Since the RX-8 has already sold more in 3 years than the 3rd generation RX-7 did in it's entire 11 year lifespan, I don't think there is much of an issue with the RX-8 not staying "fresh". Add to the fact that they are currently testing different design aspects of the next generation RX-8 due out in several years and we've got a car that will be out for a while to come. Another RX-7 does not seem like a practical idea but you never know.

raspyrx7

I still suspect we'll be seeing changes in the 8 for 2007 model.

Sephiroth

The FC RX-7 was the best-selling rotary right? How does it compare with RX-8 sales. Mazda did say if the 8 sold well enough they would intro a 7. Im gonna wait a couple more years and if there ain't no word on a 7 by then... Mazda.

Raptor2k

Source?

toca

why make a new rx7 when they can just make a 13brew tt rx8 i mean 4 doors 50/50 front to back close to 300hp the looks of a rx8 that would be better to me then a new rx7

ASH8

Given the fact that the main reason the Last RX-7 died was because of price, they were only selling about 8 a year in Australia before it was discontinued here, long before production halted in Hiroshima. What concerns me about the 8 is that in the US on average a dealer is selling only one to two a month. In Australia its now about 80 a month total, here again the price is not helping. At $63,000.00 AU for a Shinka, convert that to US $47,400.00!!, would you guys pay that in the US for a Shinka...I bet you would not, and we only have a 3 year warranty and no Sat Nav.
In Japan, a Shinka is 3.15mil yen(inc tax), convert to USD $26,000.oo. or $34,600.00 AU.
Add shipping and GST VAT does not equal 63K.
Our 8 was priced when our dollar was 57cents to US now its 75cents to US and has been around that for nearly 2 years, the price has not fallen, only a reduction of 10% over 2 years because the Federal Government here has reduced import duties(tarrif) now at 10%.
5% comes off all import cars in January 2006 then the last 5% in January 2007.

rotary crazy

you think thats expensive here we pay 40% of the car price in the us in import dutyes, a normal rx-8 cost $47,000 us dollars dont know about the shinka.

m477

No, the 1st gen sold well over double the sales of the FC.

ASH8

I can understand your concern.

Import duties are a government tax designed to restrict trade/ protect their own patch/jobs., and a revenue source.

Here we are slowing removing all duties on all imported goods...free trade.

The Australian government now only has a 10% duty/tarrif/tax on imported cars, in 2 years there will be No import taxes on cars, just the normal retail GST/VAT (10%).

What my beef is... Mazda Australia are ripping us off, as there is only a 25% difference in the exchange rate between the US and Australia.

25% of a 35KUS car is about 8,700 = 44k AU not 63K AU

MA is not the only importer who are doing this ..

BlueEyes

They're also the largest make that starts with an 'M'.

BRealistic

Really? A year? Do you have cable?

I had a cute chick (working a drive thru) just this week ask me if my car was the one that hugs you. :-/

Anyways- sport coupes mostly sell by being new looking. The RX-8 has been out since late 03. I wouldn't expect a lot of marketing (for typically under marketed Mazda) until a restyled or performance upgraded RX-8 comes out.


Oh, and Go Mountaineers! ;-)