Mazda on course for outstanding fiscal year

European automobile sales continued to stagnate in February, pulled down by Germany’s passenger car segment, which is suffering from the affects of a higher VAT introduced this year.

With only one month remaining in the current fiscal year, Mazda has sold 263,417 vehicles across Europe. This is up 8.2 percent and 20,028 units more than the same period last year, and puts the brand squarely on course for outstanding FY07 results in the region.

Last month 11 markets reported sales increases, with three markets setting February records. Significant sales growth continues in Russia, which set a record for February volume, at 3,262 units, up 59 percent. February volume records were also set in Austria (incl. South Eastern European countries), at 1,900 units, up 6.3 percent, and Portugal, at 396 units, up 10 percent year-on-year.

Mazda Ireland momentum continued after its record January with an outstanding February, increasing sales by 32 percent. The Mazda brand continues to grow in popularity in northern Europe as well, with Mazda’s Scandinavian organization reporting another strong month. Sales across the region were up 31 percent based on a volume of 1,340 units. The organization was led by Denmark, which achieved its record February for a decade, increasing sales by 44 percent. Retail sales in Norway were also positive, up 22 percent, and in Sweden up over 10 percent. In Finland (incl. all three Baltic countries) sales rose by nearly 21 percent year-on-year as well.

Sales were also good last month in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, where combined sales were up 12 percent, and in Switzerland, where Mazda increased sales by 3 percent year-on-year.

Retail sales volume at Mazda Motor Europe in February stood at a strong 20,500, which was slightly below last year’s near-record results, by 4 percent, but did little to slow down Mazda’s overall sales momentum.