Fiscal Year Sales Hold Steady at Mazda Motor Europe

LEVERKUSEN, GERMANY – April 10, 2009: Mazda Motor Europe’s fiscal year (FY) results held steady despite tough market conditions during the last four months. Mazda sold 324,600 units during the period April 2008 through March 2009 in Europe, which is the second-highest FY volume in company history, and only 1.3 percent lower than last year’s record result. The Mazda brand also increased its share of the passenger car market (excluding the Mazda BT-50) to 2.0 percent, which is up 0.2 ppt compared to the last FY.

“We saw rapidly deteriorating market conditions as the fiscal year progressed,” said Jeff Guyton, President and CEO of Mazda Motor Europe, “which presented some challenges in the fourth quarter. Looking forward, while it’s difficult at this time to project sales volumes for the new business year, we are confident that we can continue to build market share over the coming 12 months.”

A total of 15 European countries achieved increases during the period (see table below), with seven markets achieving record results. In Russia, FY retail sales stood at a record of 70,000 units, which is up 21 percent. The Ukraine also set a record, selling 7,900 units, which is up nearly 7 percent. Three markets set FY records for both volume and market share, including Portugal where Mazda sold 5,100 units, up over 5 percent, with a record FY market share estimated at 2.1 percent. In Croatia, Mazda sold 2,700 units, up 0.3 percent, which translates into a record FY market share predicted to be 3.2 percent. In Slovenia, Mazda sold a record 1,600 units, up 34 percent, which delivers a record FY market share as well, estimated at 2.3 percent. In Belarus, Mazda sold 1,700 units; an increase of 130 percent, also an all-time fiscal year record, and in Spain Mazda achieved a record FY market share, predicted to be 1.1 percent.