Possible Reason for Late 2006 Models
 

FWIW. I just finished looking at updated Mazda Corporate production statistics. Just remember two things about these stats. First they are from Mazda corporate's perspective, that is sales refer not to end-buyers but to distributers (like MNAO). Second, the year noted is a calendar year, not a model year.

Mazda RX-8 Worldwide Statistics:

Year. Built.... Sold.... Leftover
2003 60,100 57,055 3,045
2004 60,813 53,081 10,777
2005 27,837 27,157 11,457
2006 11,428 11,507 11,378 (Partial year Jan-Apr)

It looks like RX-8 sales went south sometime during 2004, probably after the switchover of the production line to 2005 cars. In calendar year 2005, Mazda reduced production by more than 50% (to adjust for lower sales) and still had a 700+car surplus.

The following is conjecture. I would bet they had a business plan to keep the 2005 production line open for 50,000 to 60,000 cars and that this plan was put in place before sales dropped off. So they went ahead and produced all the planned 2005 model cars anyway and simply extended the 2005 model year in the bigger markets (like North America) to get rid of them.

The issue that effects us is, since production/sales have dropped by half (from 60,000 cars/year to 30,000 cars/year), how will that affect the rumored 2007 facelift and the general future of the RX-8.

Your guess is as good as mine.

well the forum is crawling with rumors that they'll just discontinue the RX's like they did with the 7's, due to the fact that they just don't sell well, and whatever reason there is.... my opinion I don't think that will happen, its a great car, its just a lot of people don't buy sports cars when you have a family to think about, keyword MOST... so who knows what the future is....

msrecant: Please don't think I am flaming you. I'm not. This is nothing personal against you but more generally forum based. Saying that...

Here we go again. This thread will turn into another bs numbers speculation game with all the naysayers claiming poor sales since it doesn't sell as well as a Civic all the while comparing the RX-8 to something it isn't in the same class with. Remember these are the same people who keep saying that each year is the last year of the car. How about nobody speculate anything and we just all accept that what happens happens for a reason without an explanation and we don't have to know what it is. Sales numbers always fall of as the car gets older. That's normal.

rotarygod,

You are absolutely correct. While my intention was to distribute some interesting production facts and how they may have related to RX-8 history, there is probably no where for this thread to go other than into baseless speculation. Unfortunately no one has any hard info on what these numbers mean for the future of the RX-8 (positively or negatively).

ok, how bout mods just close threads like these asap so we dont have to deal with it. like if i see one more thread about gas mileage or a mazdaspeed 8 im gonna just die. anyone else agree?

Maybe you should have just left it down the list of threads to die instead of bumping it back up to the top of the heap ;)

Bump

Honestly I wouldn't give a shit whether it sells better or not

What's an RX-8?

Hopefully someone can explain this to me, and I will probably look like an idiot for asking.
But......

How is the number of cars sold and the number of cars left over greater then the number of cars built?

I guess I am just missing something :/

Good question.

Answer: Current Year Left Over Inventory = (Previous year left over inventory + cars built) - cars sold

It would be nice to know how many cars Mazda corporate wants to have in inventory at any point in time.

imo the rx8 is too much in the middle.
The driving experience is a pleasure yes. but to the avg dumb ass american they either want a road rocket or aweosme fuel.
Imo the rx8 is not meant to be a dragster.
If it got roughly 30 mpg then I think the sales would shoot up

^Oh yeah. I mean who the hell wants to get an SUV when you can get a RX-8 ;) Mazda knows this car would kill on mpg so they did the old 4 door thing. I think sales would have been way better if it would have been a 2 door 2 seater just like the 7 and I think we would have more hp. But thats IMO

I think sales would have been better if mazda made diferent models, 2 door coupe, cheap 5 speed 4 port engine, etc.

i thought i posted quite clearly the reasons (on top of left over 05s) for the delay in the 06 arrival in other threads-they did the runs for europe and australia before NA this time around , problems with 4port 4speed ATs and the assembly line being run at capacity due to launch of new vehiccles and huge demand for other current models.