Mazda Announces New National Sales Company and Managing Director in the Netherlands

LEVERKUSEN - September 8, 2008: Mazda Motor Europe announced today that it will transfer distribution activities from Auto Palace - de Binckhorst B.V. to a newly established National Sales Company for the Netherlands, to go into effect on 1 October 2008. The new company will officially be called Mazda Motor Nederland, with headquarters in Waddinxveen, near Gouda.

Mazda Motor Europe also announced today that Martijn ten Brink has been named Managing Director of the new national sales company. Mr. ten Brink, 35, has been with Mazda Motor Europe since 1999. He has held several management positions including, most recently, Senior Manager Sales Operations. Prior to that, he was Marketing Director of Mazda Scandinavia and European Brand Manager for Mazda MX-5 and RX-8. Before joining Mazda he worked for BMW and Honda in Italy. He is Dutch, has a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration and speaks English, German and Italian fluently. Martijn ten Brink is married and has two daughters.

“We are delighted to have Martijn head up our new Dutch organisation,” said Philip Waring, Vice President for Sales at Mazda Motor Europe. “He has proven himself a very valuable asset for Mazda, making a success of various positions in the central Sales and Marketing teams, as well as gaining experience launching a new national sales office in Scandinavia. We are confident that he and his new team will lead our new organisation in Holland to the next level of success.”

The advance notice that Mazda will establish its own national sales company in the region reflects a common understanding that has been reached between Mazda and Auto Palace - de Binckhorst B.V. to continue to cooperate closely over the next months to ensure a smooth transition of the business.

Auto Palace - de Binckhorst B.V. was one of Mazda’s first independent distributors in Europe and began selling Mazda vehicles in the Netherlands in 1968. Since then, over 650,000 units have been sold, and the Mazda brand enjoys a strong reputation for quality, reliability and customer satisfaction. James Muir, President and CEO of Mazda Europe, expressed his appreciation for the representation that Auto Palace - de Binckhorst B.V. has provided Mazda during the last 40 years.

Referring to the reason for the change and its timing, James Muir said: “Over the last eight years, Mazda in Europe has progressively acquired control over distribution to the extent that about ninety percent of our annual sales volume is now made by wholly-owned subsidiaries. We intend to selectively increase this proportion of our volume in markets where it is logical and appropriate, and this move into the Netherlands is a consequence of that strategy. We are very grateful to Auto Palace - de Binckhorst B.V. for its loyalty and dedication to the Mazda Brand over many years. They will continue to work with Mazda, as the company intends to continue to run Mazda dealerships in Rotterdam and The Hague.