March 2008 Sales: Mazda North American Operations

[VenSeattle]

Mazda Announces March Sales for North America
April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/
Link to Press Release

IRVINE, Calif., April 1, 2008 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American
Operations (MNAO) today reported U.S. sales of 32,929 vehicles, its best
month since last year's best-ever March. Including the U.S., Canada and
Mexico, total MNAO sales were 43,496 vehicles. Mazda Canada, Inc. and Mazda
Motor de Mexico both reported best-ever March sales with increases of 11.7
percent and 12.0 percent respectively.

Signaling the continuation of a shift in consumers' tastes to smaller,
more fuel-efficient vehicles, the MAZDA5 multi-activity vehicle reported
its best-ever month, with sales of 2,758 units accounting for a 66.4
percent increase versus last year. Redesigned for 2008, the six-passenger
MAZDA5 boasts more standard features, improved fuel economy and a new
five-speed automatic transmission.

Mazda's highly acclaimed CX-9 crossover SUV, which has taken home more
than a dozen awards including North American Truck of the Year and Motor
Trend's 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year, reported a 9.7 percent increase in
sales with 2,679 units sold.

On a calendar-year-to-date basis, Mazda sales in the U.S. were down 1.8
percent with 77,689 vehicles sold; MCI sales were up 10.4 percent with
19,597 vehicles sold; and MMdM sales were up 39.0 percent with 5,029
vehicles sold.

"The weakening economy is causing a ripple effect that's hurting all
industries, including automotive," said Jim O'Sullivan, President and CEO,
MNAO. "As we close our fiscal year, I can look back and say it was a
successful one for Mazda from a sales and product perspective. With the
record sales we had last March, we knew this month was going to be tough --
now we need to focus on moving forward, keeping our heads down, and
remembering that the car business isn't a sprint, it's a marathon."

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, Mexico and Puerto Rico through
nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc.,
located in Ontario; in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City; and
in Puerto Rico by Mazda de Puerto Rico in San Juan.

Mazda North American Operations - March
                                     2008

                         Month-To-Date                 Year-To-Date

                    March   March          %     March      March          %
                     2008    2007     Change      2008       2007     Change

    Mazda3         12,635  15,606    (19.0)%    27,107     31,927    (15.1)%
    Mazda5          2,758   1,657      66.4%     6,478      4,548      42.4%
    Mazda6          7,741   9,624    (19.6)%    19,601     20,173     (2.8)%
    MX-5 Miata      1,664   2,281    (27.0)%     3,248      4,373    (25.7)%
    RX-8              333     735    (54.7)%       912      1,731    (47.3)%
    Protege           -       -          N/A       -          -          N/A
    CX-7            3,396   4,221    (19.5)%     9,136      9,940     (8.1)%
    CX-9            2,679   2,443       9.7%     6,729      3,694      82.2%
    Tribute         1,568     941      66.6%     4,112      1,703     141.5%
    B-Series Truck    155     233    (33.5)%       366        867    (57.8)%
    MPV               -         1   (100.0)%       -          120   (100.0)%

    Total Vehicles

    CARS           25,131  29,903    (16.0)%    57,346     62,752     (8.6)%
    TRUCKS          7,798   7,839     (0.5)%    20,343     16,324      24.6%

    TOTAL          32,929  37,742    (12.8)%    77,689     79,076     (1.8)%


    MEMO:

    IMPORT CAR     17,390  20,279    (14.2)%    37,745     42,579    (11.4)%
    IMPORT TRUCK    6,075   6,665     (8.9)%    15,865     13,754      15.3%
    IMPORT TOTAL   23,465  26,944    (12.9)%    53,610     56,333     (4.8)%

    DOMESTIC CAR    7,741   9,624    (19.6)%    19,601     20,173     (2.8)%
    DOMESTIC TRUCK  1,723   1,174      46.8%     4,478      2,570      74.2%
    DOMESTIC TOTALS 9,464  10,798    (12.4)%    24,079     22,743       5.9%

    Note:  MPV & Protege are discontinued vehicles.

[A Horse With No Name]

Interesting that they are getting where they are selling the CX-9 SUV...which isn't a bad product. 3 is down over last year, but it is near the end of its product cycle.

Miata is right there with Solstice in sales.

Chris

[regfootball]

cx-7 already tanking

rx-8=irrelevant, put a v6 in it already

[A Horse With No Name]

cx-7 already tanking

rx-8=irrelevant, put a v6 in it already

rx-8 makes a good track day or auto-x car but would just suck as a daily in some ways.

Rotaries burn lots and lots O' fuel.

Chris

[thegriffon]

err, isn't that down 12.8%? The only up vehicles are the tribute, and the Mazda5 (finally taking off in an era of $3+ gas).

[pow]

The CX-7 needs a NA four-cylinder... maybe the new '09 Escapinerbute 2.5 liter?

[The O.C.]

The CX-7 needs a NA four-cylinder... maybe the new '09 Escapinerbute 2.5 liter?

Too weak I'm guessing for what is a slightly larger SUV.....?

[A Horse With No Name]

Not impressed with Mazda's Suv's, Ford Escape would be the way to go (or freestyle) If you wanted a Mazda/Ford SUv.

Chris

[VenSeattle]

err, isn't that down 12.8%? The only up vehicles are the tribute, and the Mazda5 (finally taking off in an era of $3+ gas).

Ugh! Missed that... Fixed. Sorry.