Mazda Sales For December and 2002

IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 3, 2003; Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported a sales volume of 16,971 units in December -- an 11 percent decrease in sales versus the same period last year. Overall, Mazda's year-to-date sales total 258,213 units-down 4.2 percent from 2001.

Bolstering Mazda sales last year was the powerful and functional MPV, which led the way with sales totaling 34,403 units -- up 6.9 percent for the year. Sales of the company's sporty Protege line of vehicles also jumped last year with sales of 83,367 units -- a 5.9 percent increase.

"Although Mazda closed 2002 with a slight decline in sales, today we lift the curtain on the year's auto show season, and we're poised to kick of 2003 selling in a big way," said Charlie Hughes, president and CEO of Mazda North American Operations. "The sales of existing products such as MPV and Protege continue to shine, while the recent introduction of our flagship sedan, the MAZDA6, which just hit showrooms last month, along with next week's debut of the 2004 RX-8, has everyone excited."

Overall Mazda sales declined in 2002 thanks in large part to the phasing out of the company's 626 sedan as well as the Millenia. An anchor for many years, the Mazda 626 came to the end of its life cycle in 2002, and the company expects the vehicle's shoes to be adequately filled by it's new flagship, the stylish MAZDA6 sports sedan. The MAZDA6 has garnered tremendous media acclaim and recently was named one of Car and Driver's 10 Best.

Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and marketing, customer parts and services support of Mazda vehicles in the United States. Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has more than 700 dealerships nationwide.

Mazda North American Operations today released the following sales figures for December 2002:

                        Mazda Announces December Sales

                     Month-To-Date                       Year-To-Date

                  December  December    %          December  December    %
                    2002      2001    Change         2002      2001   Change

     PROTEGE      6,031      6,171     -2.3%      83,367    78,688     5.9%
     626          1,603      2,810    -43.0%      40,689    50,997   -20.2%
     Mazda6       1,581          0      N/A        2,042         0    N/A
     MILLENIA       917      1,211    -24.3%      18,066    19,849    -9.0%
     MIATA          536      1,004    -46.6%      14,392    16,486   -12.7%
     MPV          2,115      2,209     -4.3%      34,403    32,181     6.9%
     MAZDA TRUCK    995      1,750    -43.1%      20,265    26,131   -22.4%
     TRIBUTE      3,193      3,908    -18.3%      44,989    45,270    -0.6%


     Total Vehicles

     CARS        10,668     11,196     -4.7%     158,556   166,020    -4.5%
     TRUCKS       6,303      7,867    -19.9%      99,657   103,582    -3.8%
     TOTAL       16,971     19,063    -11.0%     258,213   269,602    -4.2%


     MEMO:

     IMPORT
      CAR         7,484      8,386    -10.8%     115,825   115,023     0.7%
     IMPORT
      TRUCK       2,115      2,209     -4.3%      34,403    32,181     6.9%
     IMPORT
      TOTAL       9,599     10,595     -9.4%     150,228   147,204     2.1%
     DOMESTIC
      CAR         3,184      2,810     13.3%      42,731    50,997   -16.2%
     DOMESTIC
      TRUCK       4,188      5,658    -26.0%      65,254    71,401    -8.6%
     DOMESTIC
      TOTALS      7,372      8,468    -12.9%     107,985   122,398   -11.8%