Mazda Launches New 'Business Line' For Fleets

DARTFORD, UNITED KINGDOM – June 2, 2011: Mazda is broadening its appeal to the UK corporate market with the launch of a new ‘Business Line’ model giving company car drivers a highly specified vehicle at a competitive price.

The Mazda6 - the marque’s best-selling range into the UK fleet sector- will carry the ‘Business Line’ nomenclature through a new derivative and will be available to order from 1 June 2011.

The ‘Business Line’ model is a single, fleet focused Mazda6 hatchback available with a 2.2-litre diesel engine producing 129ps, priced at £18,300 on-the-road. Emitting 138g/km of CO2, the car sits in the 20 per cent benefit-in-kind tax bracket for 2011/12.

The first deliveries of the car will begin in late summer and Mazda anticipates that it will sell approximately 500 ‘Business Line’ models in the remainder of 2011. Annual sales are expected to total around 1,000 units.

The Mazda6 ‘Business Line’ will be available in the three most popular colours chosen by company car drivers - Black Mica, Sunlight Silver Metallic and Stormy Blue Mica. Equipment on the Mazda6 ‘Business Line’ shares standard model specification, plus a Sanyo TomTom® satellite navigation system with Bluetooth® technology and 17-inch alloy wheels.

Mazda Fleet and Remarketing Director Steve Jelliss said: “With this well equipped, fleet focused Mazda6 model, we are anticipating significant incremental sales. This is the first time Mazda has introduced a model specifically intended to appeal to company car drivers through a combination of both features and attractive benefit-in-kind rates.”

Company car drivers will pay 20 percent benefit-in-kind tax in 2011/12 on a P11D value of £18,130, which is significantly lower than more expensive competitor models.

Jelliss said: “Drivers choosing the new Mazda6 ‘Business Line’ model will pay just £60.43 a month if a basic rate taxpayer or £120.87 a month if a higher rate taxpayer. That represents fantastic value-for-money for a car with the style, performance and features of our latest model.

“With an anticipated monthly contract hire rate lower than significant rival models, the Mazda6 ‘Business Line’ will sit in the company car band below the premium badge cars. Consequently, given its tax rating and specification levels, we also anticipate the car will appeal to employees choosing a car within a salary sacrifice scheme.”

Other features on the Mazda6 ‘Business Line’ include: Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) and Traction Control System (TCS) with Electronic Brake-force Distribution (EBD) and Emergency Brake Assist as well as front, side and curtain airbags, cruise control and dual-zone climate control air conditioning.