Mazda Sales Zoom More Than 20 Percent in March

       Company's Big Month Led by Protege, Tribute, Millenia and Miata

    IRVINE, Calif., April 3 Mazda sales in the United States
finished the first quarter of the year in impressive fashion, surging
20.3 percent in March. This strong performance comes on the heels of a nearly
19 percent jump in February and a 25 percent rise in January, pushing the
company's first quarter total to more than 23 percent ahead of last year's
pace.

    Overall, Mazda's sales for March are 24,573, and the year-to-date sales
total is 65,761 units, Mazda's best quarter since 1995.

    "We couldn't be happier with our strong sales performance in the first
quarter of 2001," said Charlie Hughes, president and CEO of Mazda North
American Operations.  "Mazda is now the fastest-growing Japanese brand in
America, which is a tribute to the appeal of our product line and our 'Zoom
Zoom' advertising campaign to consumers."

    March proved to be a huge month for Mazda's stylish new Protege, which saw
a 40.7 percent increase in sales from a year ago, selling a company best
6,783 units.  Mazda's recently introduced, award-winning Tribute sport utility
vehicle also turned in a strong performance while Millenia sales leapt nearly
20 percent over the same period last year.  Miata sales were up 6.5 percent
over last March, and the company's MPV rounded out the month with a
5.5 percent increase in sales, its best March since 1994.

    
                         MAZDA SALES FOR MARCH, 2001

                                      Month-To-Date           Year-To-Date
                               March   March     %     March    March     %
                                2001    2000   Change   2001    2000   Change

    PROTEGE                     6,783   4,821   40.7%  15,549  13,961   11.4%

    626                         5,433   7,640  -28.9%  15,185  17,290  -12.2%

    MILLENIA                    1,286   1,074   19.7%   4,252   3,145   35.2%

    MIATA                       1,596   1,499    6.5%   3,631   3,298   10.1%

    MPV                         2,933   2,780    5.5%   7,958   8,095   -1.7%

    B-SERIES TRUCK              2,628   2,618    0.4%   6,247   7,623  -18.1%

    TRIBUTE                     3,914       0    N/A   12,939       0    N/A

    Total Vehicles

    CARS                       15,098  15,034    0.4%  38,617  37,694    2.4%

    TRUCKS                      9,475   5,398   75.5%  27,144  15,718   72.7%

    TOTAL                      24,573  20,432   20.3%  65,761  53,412   23.1%


     MEMO:

    IMPORT CAR                  9,665   7,394   30.7%  23,432  20,404   14.8%
    IMPORT TRUCK                2,933   2,780    5.5%   7,958   8,095   -1.7%
    IMPORT TOTAL               12,598  10,174   23.8%  31,390  28,499   10.1%

    DOMESTIC CAR                5,433   7,640  -28.9%  15,185  17,290  -12.2%
    DOMESTIC TRUCK              6,542   2,618  149.9%  19,186   7,623  151.7%
    DOMESTIC TOTALS            11,975  10,258   16.7%  34,371  24,913   38.0%