Mazda: 2003 Europe Sales Up

TOKYO, April 25, 2003; Reuters reported that Mazda Motor Corp, the smallest of Japan's top five automakers, said on Friday it expected to boost sales in its key European market this calendar year by 20.8 percent to 220,000 units.

It forecast its Japanese sales to rise 7.4 percent to 290,000 units for the business year that started on April 1.

Mazda, which is one-third owned by Ford Motor Co , also said it aims to boost its U.S. sales for the 2003 calendar year by 8.4 percent to 280,000 units.