50,000 sales in 2006 mark best-ever year for Mazda

Mazda new car sales set an all-time record during 2006, breaking the 50,000 vehicle sales barrier for the first time to claim a 2.1 per cent share of the UK passenger car market for the Japanese brand.

Official registration figures confirm that a grand total of 50,166 new Mazda cars were delivered to customers last year – a 7.2 per cent rise over 2005. This remarkable performance was achieved despite an overall 3.9 per cent downturn in the market.

“British car buyers are clearly finding the Mazda product range more and more attractive,” enthused Rob Lindley, Managing Director of Mazda Motors UK.

“During 2006 the introduction of the upgraded Mazda3 range, plus full availability of the new Mazda MX-5 and Mazda5 models launched in 2005 boosted our brand’s appeal and helped us to out-perform the market trend in a big way.

“Breaking through the 50,000 barrier for the first time has a psychological impact on our company and our dealer network. It’s something we have aspired to for some time. Mazda has achieved more than 45,000 sales in each of the last three years, which gives us much greater visibility in the UK.

“Now, we have exceeded a 2 per cent market share over a full year for the first time, while in March we sold over 10,000 cars in a month for the first time, so that is three amazing milestones for us in one year.”

When Mazda took over direct control of UK operations in 2001 (from MCL), annual sales in 2001 totalled just 15,800 units.

Mazda is looking forward to an even better year in 2007, Lindley explained: “We will build on the success of 2006 with wide availability of the Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe, the launch of the sensational Mazda3 MPS superhatch and the Mazda BT-50 pickup.

“In addition, we will be entering a new sector for Mazda with the Mazda CX-7 crossover SUV that will create a great opportunity for additional sales volume and broadening our brand image.

“In Scotland we already achieve close to 3 per cent market share in a traditionally retail?based market so there is definitely potential to grow the brand further once the whole range comes on stream.”