Mazda bucks trend with increased market share

As new car sales in the UK tumble, down 21.2 percent in September from the same month a year ago and down 7.6 per cent in the first nine months of the year, Mazda UK reports a strong increase in its market share.

The Zoom-Zoom company has taken its share of the retail market from 2.3 percent in September 2007 to 3.1 percent in September 2008. The September performance which saw Mazda selling 9,506 cars wasn’t a blip.

“We’ve been growing our retail share this year and for the first nine months that share is 2.8 percent which is 0.7 percentage points up on the same time last year,” says managing director Jeremy Thomson.

“Our passenger car retail sales for the year are 24,226 which is 3,138 up on last year and given current conditions a great performance.”

The overall industry sales are down 7.6 percent – or 147,543 units – in the same period. Having the right car at the right time with Mazda2 has obviously helped, said Mr Thomson. Mazda2 overtook Mazda3 in September to become the company’s best seller.

In September, Mazda sold 5,325 passenger cars to private buyers and 4,181 to fleet and business customers. “To support our dealer network, we have put increased emphasis on the retail channel and sales to local fleets. It’s the right balance for the business, especially now,” said Mr Thomson.