Mazda Reports March 2006 Sales

- Calendar Year-to-Date Sales Up Five Percent as Fiscal Year Closes -

IRVINE, Calif., April 3 -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported March sales of 25,514 vehicles boosting its first-quarter sales total to 67,271, an increase of five percent versus the same period last year.

Mazda's sales were led in volume by its popular MAZDA3, which reported sales of 8,087 units despite a continuing lack of inventory of popular models and options. The sporty MAZDA6 reported its best-ever month with 7,215 units sold -- up 6.0 percent versus last year and up 5.0-percent year-over-year -- and the MX-5 Miata posted its best month since February 1998 with sales of 2,000 units.

The versatile MPV also saw a 5.0 increase in sales with 1,526 units sold while the MAZDA5 reported sales of 1,703 units.

"As our fiscal-year-end comes to a close, we're excited to see that our first-quarter calendar-year sales are up five percent over last year, in spite of a soft March," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, Mazda North American Operations. "We're on a sales-roll right now that's the envy of the industry, despite one of the lowest incentive spends in the industry. And with an increase in exclusive Mazda dealers -- up to 43-percent now -- we'll see an even greater impact on our sales throughout the remainder of the year."

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

Mazda North American Operations today released the following sales figures for March 2006:

               Mazda North American Operations - March 2006

                           Month-To-Date               Year-To-Date

                     March    March         %     March    March        %
                      2006     2005    Change      2006     2005   Change

  Mazda3             8,087    9,455     (14)%    21,732   21,728       0%

  Mazda5             1,703       --       N/A     5,061       --      N/A

  Mazda6             7,215    6,791        6%    19,215   18,248       5%

  MX-5 Miata         2,000      680      194%     4,362    1,769     147%

  RX-8               1,582    2,489     (36)%     2,917    4,917    (41)%

  Protege               --       --       N/A         1        1       0%

  626                   --       --       N/A        --        2      N/A

  MPV                1,526    1,452        5%     4,223    4,513     (6)%

  B-Series Truck       490    1,188     (59)%     1,282    2,285    (44)%

  Tribute            2,911    4,098     (29)%     8,478   10,556    (20)%

  Total Vehicles

  CARS              20,587   19,415        6%    53,288   46,665      14%

  TRUCKS             4,927    6,738     (27)%    13,983   17,354    (19)%

  TOTAL             25,514   26,153      (2)%    67,271   64,019       5%

  MEMO:

  IMPORT CAR        13,372   12,624        6%    34,073   28,415      20%
  IMPORT TRUCK       1,526    1,452        5%     4,223    4,513     (6)%
  IMPORT TOTAL      14,898   14,076        6%    38,296   32,928      16%

  DOMESTIC CAR       7,215    6,791        6%    19,215   18,250       5%
  DOMESTIC TRUCK     3,401    5,286     (36)%     9,760   12,841    (24)%
  DOMESTIC TOTALS   10,616   12,077     (12)%    28,975   31,091     (7)%

  Note:  Protege and 626 are discontinued vehicles.