Mazda remained one of Europe’s fastest-growing carmakers in the third quarter, increasing unit sales by 29% year-on-year and extending its growth streak to 12 consecutive quarters. The Japanese brand sold just under 60,000 vehicles between July and September, easily outpacing an overall market that was up by 10.6% during the period and raising its market share to 1.7%*.
In doing so, Mazda posted double-digit gains in at least 15 national markets and net growth in virtually every country. Leading the way were the Netherlands, where Mazda sales more than doubled over the previous year (+121%), Turkey (+111%), Portugal (+68%), Slovenia (+68%) and France (+62%), while Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland reported around 50% increases. Sales in Mazda’s two largest markets, meanwhile, were up 27% (UK) and 17% (Germany)**.
“What’s very encouraging is that we continue to make gains across geographies and across our new-generation model line-up,” says Mazda Europe Vice President Sales Martijn ten Brink. “Take our newest model. The fourth-generation MX-5 has been a positive surprise. We’ve even hiked production in Japan to meet European demand.”
The all-new Mazda CX-3 launched in June is also driving sales, contributing almost 10,000 units in Q3 alone, while Mazda2 volume was up 90% last quarter compared to the previous year. Otherwise, the Mazda CX-5 continues to cement its position among Europeans as the company’s most popular model ahead of the Mazda3 and Mazda6***.
Ongoing recognition for the company’s current model generation has undoubtedly contributed to its success in Europe. In Germany, for example, Mazda was number one overall in two recent J.D. Power surveys – the 2015 Vehicle Dependability Study and 2015 Customer Satisfaction Index – also receiving excellent marks for several models in the GTÜ Gebrauchwagen 2016 used car report. Mazda says it is on track to sell in excess of 200,000 vehicles in 2015, an increase of more than 15% over the previous year.
* Source for European figures: www.acea.be (European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association), New Passenger Car Registrations, EU28 + EFTA (excluding Malta), supplemented by Mazda internal figures
** Sources for national figures: www.ccfa.fr (French Automobile Manufacturers Association); www.kba.de (German Federal Motor Transport Authority); www.en.anfia.it (Italian Automotive Industry Association); www.raivereniging.nl (RAI, Dutch Bicycle and Automobile Industry Association); www.autoinforma.pt (Automobile Association of Portugal, Data Centre); www.ads-slo.org (Automobile Society of Slovenia); www.anfac.com (Spanish Association of Car & Truck Manufacturers); bilsweden.se (Swedish Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers); www.auto-schweiz.ch (Auto Schweiz / Suisse importer’s association); smmt.co.uk (UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), supplemented by Mazda internal figures
*** Source for model data: Mazda internal figures
