Mazda Reports Fiscal Year 2008 Financial Results

HIROSHIMA, JAPAN – May 12, 2009: Mazda Motor Corporation today reported its financial results for fiscal year (FY) 2008 and announced its projections for FY2009.

Mazda’s consolidated sales revenue was 2,535.9 billion yen in FY2008, down 27 percent compared to FY2007. Mazda recorded an operating loss of 28.4 billion yen, reflecting the yen’s appreciation against key currencies and a sharp deterioration in the global sales environment. Consolidated ordinary loss was 18.7 billion yen. Consolidated net loss was 71.5 billion yen, reflecting impairment losses of production facilities at overseas affiliates and increased tax expenses due to a partial release of deferred tax assets during the fiscal year. Free cash flow for FY2008 was negative 129.2 billion yen, but free cash flow in the fourth quarter was positive 67.5 billion yen, reflecting the progress achieved through inventory adjustment measures.

Mazda’s global retail volume in FY2008 was 1,261,000 units, due to a sharp downturn in the business environment that started in the second half of FY2008.

In China, Mazda increased sales 33 percent year-on-year, to 135,000 units. Sales volume in Japan was 219,000 units, down 15 percent year-on-year, although the newly launched Mazda Biante and Mazda Atenza (known as Mazda6 overseas) models had a positive impact on sales. North American sales amounted to 347,000 units in FY2008, down 14 percent compared to the previous year. However, Mazda’s market share in the US improved by 0.1 points, to 2.0 percent. Retail sales in Europe reached 322,000 units, down 2 percent compared to FY2007, though market share increased 0.2 points to 1.7 percent.

In other global markets, combined total sales volume decreased 13 percent year-on-year to 238,000 units. In Australia, Mazda’s largest market in this category, sales reached 77,000 units, with a record market share of 8 percent, up 0.5 points compared to the previous fiscal year.

FY2009 Full Year Forecast
With challenging business conditions expected to continue from FY2008 into FY2009, Mazda forecasts its sales revenue to be 2,030 billion yen. Mazda projects an operating loss of 50 billion yen and a net loss of 50 billion yen. This outlook for an operating loss is based on continued weak demand which is anticipated for the first half of FY2009, and the residual impact of inventory adjustments. However, an operating profit is forecast in the second half of the fiscal year, due to expected full contributions from the all-new Mazda3, and gains from further cost reduction efforts. Mazda will also focus on achieving positive free cash flow during the fiscal year. Due to continuing weak demand in major markets which began in the second half of FY2008, global retail sales volume is projected to be 1.1 million units in FY2009, a year-on-year decrease of 161,000 units. However, Mazda aims to improve or maintain its market share in key markets.

As a result of the deterioration in the operating environment, Mazda will forgo a year-end dividend in FY2008, and plans a dividend of 3 yen per share for FY2009.