MAZDA REACHES ALL-TIME RECORD MARKET SHARE AT 2.7%
05 February 2006 - Mazda

January sales have proved outstanding for the Japanese manufacturer that brought us Zoom-Zoom with the iconic two-seater sports car Mazda MX-5 and the rotary-powered Mazda RX-8 sports coupé.

*Highest Mazda monthly market share ever – 2.7 per cent
*Most successful January ever – 4,400 sales
*Mazda is officially Britain''s Favourite Sports Car Brand – 13.8% segment share

February Mazda news briefs

Despite a car market that fell 13% year-on-year, Mazda has reached an all-time record market share in the UK at 2.7 per cent with sales of 4,400 units ranking as the 12thth best selling car company in the UK for the month.

January 2006 marks the most successful January ever for Mazda UK with a nine per cent increase on January last year. The market share high follows Mazda''s most successful sales month ever last September which achieved a 2.2 per cent market share.

Britain''s Favourite Sports Car Brand

Mazda is celebrating two landmarks for sales this month as the recently published SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) sports car segment figures for 2005 confirm that Mazda is now Britain''s favourite sports car brand holding a majority share of the total sports car segment of 13.8 per cent from 10,153 sports car sales. Mazda''s majority share of the sports car segment was followed by premium car brands Porsche at 10.9 per cent and Mercedes-Benz at 10.6 per cent.

January Sales Success

Most popular Mazda car for January was the Mazda6 at 1,324 units closely followed by the Mazda3 at 1,136 units. The sports models also enjoyed continued success this New Year with 583 and 393 sales respectively of the MX-5 and RX-8. Family models the Mazda5 and supermini Mazda2 had another popular month with 471 Mazda5''s and 387 Mazda2''s leaving showrooms. Meanwhile, pick up sales remain steady with around 100 sales of the B-series in January.

Sales director Jeremy Thomson commented on this record sales month: ''We are delighted to reach a 2.7 per cent market share for the first time. Sales of our volume family and company car models Mazda3 and Mazda6 continue to grow in popularity, while the success of our sports models Mazda MX-5 and RX-8 go from strength to strength.

''Between now and March we have a lot of activity with a National Test Drive week at Mazda dealerships nationwide from 14-19 February promoting the all new Mazda6 MPS - our highest performance saloon ever - Mazda MX-5 and the first Special Edition Mazda RX-8 ‘Evolve’. We are also launching a Limited Edition Range called Sakata on Mazda2, Mazda3 and Mazda6, which offers a little bit of sports car into everyday motoring at an affordable price. Finally, Mazda2 gets a refreshing upgrade this month and is on sale in showrooms now.''

Jan 05 passenger car share 2.08 % Jan 06 passenger car share 2.73 %

FEBRUARY MAZDA NEWS BRIEFS

Mazda Issues Storm Warning UK residents can expect a thunderous onslaught of power and style from 15 - 19 February as customers are offered the chance to test-drive Mazda sports models including the Mazda MX-5 two-seater roadster, the award winning Mazda RX-8 coupé and the 150mph, 260 ps turbocharged Mazda6 MPS at their local Mazda dealership. For the first time, customers have the chance to see the first-ever Special Edition Mazda RX-8, ‘Evolve’.

Everyone completing a test drive will be entered into a draw to win a bespoke driving weekend at Thruxton Racing School.

Mazda to Add Second Vehicle Test Track in Japan

In early March 2006, Mazda Motor Corporation will establish its second vehicle test track in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, to complement its Miyoshi Proving Ground facility. Mazda has opted to acquire this second test track to eventually develop facilities that are currently unavailable at the Miyoshi testing ground, such as a large turn, and a section that resembles a high speed European motorway.

The new facility, to be named the Mine Proving Ground, will be used as an R&D centre to complement vehicle development being conducted at Miyoshi, such as vehicle performance testing or quantitative data acquisition for the evaluation of driveability. (For full press release visit www.media.mazda.com.)

Mazda Motor Logistics Europe Revenues Reach new High

Mazda Motor Logistics Europe (MLE) located in Willebroek, was Belgium’s largest automotive vehicles, parts and accessories company in 2005, topping the list of over 300 companies currently active in this sector. MLE is responsible for delivering vehicles and parts to over 2,000 Mazda dealers throughout continental Europe.

www.mazda.co.uk

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