RX8Club.com - Record Year at Mazda Motor Europe

Record Year at Mazda Motor Europe

Retail sales of 342,800 units the highest calendar year volume ever Six individual countries set all-time records 20 countries achieve sales increases
Leverkusen, 12 January 2009. Despite difficult market conditions during the last two months of 2008, Mazda Motor Europe’s retail sales for the year stood at 342,800 units. This is the highest calendar year volume ever in Europe, and up 9.3 percent compared to 2007. The Mazda brand also achieved an estimated passenger car market share of 1.9 percent in 2008 in Europe, which is up 0.2 percentage points year-on-year. Strong gains in Mazda sales during the first 10 months helped the brand achieve year-on-year increases in 20 individual markets in 2008 (see table below for details), among them six that set all-time records. In Russia, Mazda recorded its highest calendar year retail volume ever, with 73,700 units, up 47 percent versus 2007. Portugal saw Mazda sales reach record levels in 2008 as well – at 5,100 units, an increase of 2 percent. Mazda also achieved all-time calendar year records for retail volume in Hungary, with 3,600 vehicles, up 29 percent, in Croatia, with 3,100 units, up 17 percent, in Slovenia, with 1,600 units, up 50 percent and in Belarus with 1,500 units, which is up 138 percent compared to 2007. “We are satisfied with these positive results, particularly in the context of a difficult trading year. A combination of our professional dealer network and the strongest Mazda line-up ever has helped deliver our highest calendar year volume,” said Philip Waring, newly appointed European Chief Operating Officer (COO) with responsibility for sales and marketing. “These last two months were a challenge, and the current economic downturn makes predictions difficult. But following our success in CY2008 we can move into 2009 with a guarded degree of optimism.”

Top Performing Markets in Calendar Year (CY) 2008 Country

Mazda Retail Sales CY 2008 vs. CY 2007

Russia
73,700
+47%
All-time CY record for volume

Italy
19,000
+10%

Austria
18,500
+12%

Greece
9,000
+24%
3rd highest CY volume ever

Ukraine
8,700
+25%

Switzerland
8,600
+23%

Denmark
8,300
+24%

The Netherlands
8,300
+8%

Mazda BELUX (Belgium + Luxembourg)
6,700
+53%

Portugal
5,100
+2%
All-time CY record for volume

Czech Republic
4,500
+56%
3rd highest CY volume ever

Ireland
4,500
+5%

Norway
3,900
+18%

Hungary
3,600
+29%
All-time CY record for volume

Croatia
3,100
+17%
All-time CY record for volume

Slovenia
1,600
+50%
All-time CY record for volume

Belarus
1,500
+138%
All-time CY record for volume

Morocco
900
+78%

Turkey
870
+99%