Mazda sales up nine per cent in Europe

Mazda Motor Europe finished out an outstanding fiscal year in March with a projected volume of 272,608 units and sales up nine per cent versus the last FY, the best result in more than a decade.

All markets contributed to these excellent FY results, with numerous markets achieving double-digit growth or better. Strong sales during the first quarter of the current calendar year also contributed to these results, with 71,569 units sold and double-digit sales increases in 7 countries.

In March, four markets achieved double or triple-digit growth. Russia set a record for single month volume, with sales up 219 percent over last March and a projected market share of 3.8 per cent. March was Russia's 27th consecutive month of double-digit growth or better.

News was also good in Italy and Spain for Mazda, with both markets setting March records for volume. In the Austrian export markets (Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Bulgaria and Macedonia) sales were up by a total of 30 per cent, also a March record.

Other markets earning special mention for their March results include Greece, where sales rose by 25 per cent, the 24th consecutive month of double-digit growth for the Mazda brand there.

Sales were also brisk in France, up nine per cent and in the UK, with sales up 8 per cent over last March. Volume in the UK was outstanding and represented nearly a third of Mazda Motor Europe's total volume for the month.

In Germany, March sales represented 27 per cent of all sales in Europe as Mazda achieved a projected market share of 2.3 per cent.

Mazda3 had its best month since launch in March, with 12,048 units sold. This result tops its predecessor's (Mazda 323) best single month for volume by well over 400 units and translates into a projected segment share of 3.2 per cent.

Mazda's B-Series pickup continued to sell well last month, with volume up 24 per cent compared to last March. Mazda MX-5 captured eight per cent and Mazda RX-8 11 per cent of the sports non-premium segment, giving Mazda 19 per cent of this segment in March.