Strong Sales Pave the Way for New Generation Mazda3

MOUNT WAVERLEY, AUSTRALIA – April 6, 2009: Mazda Australia celebrates the arrival of its New Generation Mazda3 with record market share for the first three months of the year.

According to March VFACTS figures Mazda has achieved a year-to-date market share of 8.9 percent. This new benchmark is up 0.7 percentage points on the previous record set in the same month last year.

Mazda has reinforced its position as the country’s top-selling full-line vehicle importer and has retailed 19,024 new cars so far this year.

The first shipment of New Generation Mazda3s bound for Australian dealerships comes in the same week sales figures confirm Mazda sold 2,801 of the last remaining current-generation Mazda3s in Australia last month. The New Generation Mazda3 sedan and hatch range officially goes on sale this week.

Mazda sold a total of 6,116 new vehicles in March securing the company the number four spot on the sales chart.

Year-to-date the first-generation Mazda3 is the country’s best-selling small car, with 8,914 sales, up 1.5 percent year-on-year. The stylish Mazda6 is the number one medium import, with 2,138.

Mazda Australia Managing Director Doug Dickson said the company is confident the New Generation Mazda3 will reap the same sales success the first-generation model has enjoyed over the last five years.

“It’s pleasing to see the outgoing Mazda3 selling so strongly in its last month on sale. March has paved the way for the arrival of the New Generation Mazda3 that takes the perennially popular first-generation model to a whole new level.

“The New Generation Mazda3 comes at a time where Australians are turning to smaller, more practical vehicles that offer high levels of luxury in an affordable and economical package.

“The New Generation Mazda offers just that, and sets new benchmarks in style, refinement and dynamics and we’re confident it will hit the sweet spot with Australian new car buyers.”