MAZDA REPORTS CONTINUED STRONG SALES IN FEBRUARY

- Sales up 6.7 Percent; CX-9, MAZDA5 and Tribute lead the way -

IRVINE, Calif. – Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported another strong sales month with 23,548 units sold in the U.S., a 6.7 percent increase compared to last February.  Year-to-date sales of 44,760 are up 8.4 percent year-over-year.
Mazda’s crossover SUV lineup is taking the industry by storm.  The winner of the 2008 North American Truck of the Year and 2008 Motor Trend Sport/Utility of the Year, CX-9, reported sales of 2,200 units, up 88.4 percent versus last year.  CX-7 recorded 3,185 units sold, up 7.9 percent, and Tribute sold 1,386 units in February.  Combined, the Mazda crossover SUV lineup recorded sales of 6,771 in February, up 49.7 percent versus last February and up 59.5 percent year-to-date.

The MAZDA5 multi-activity vehicle, which has been freshened for 2008, sold 2,021 units, a 29.1 percent increase, and the best month for the vehicle since March, 2006.  January sales were led in volume by MAZDA3, which reported sales of 7,893 units.
 “The economic outlook remains in doubt, with increasing crude oil prices, continued consumer uncertainty and further concern in housing causing consumers to think twice before purchasing big-ticket items like a new car,” said Jim O’Sullivan, President and CEO, MNAO.  “Mazda sales continue to buck the trend across the industry, though, with our focus on selling the right cars and SUVs at the right price, and through the right dealers.”

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) continues its string of impressive sales with 1,667 vehicles sold, up 43 percent versus last year.  On a year-to-date basis, MMdM reported 3,517 total sales.  Mazda Canada, Inc. reported February sales of 5,810 units, up 12.4 percent, and their best-ever February.  Additionally, Mazda Canada reported best-ever February sales for MAZDA5, MX-5 and B-Series.  Year-to-date, MCI reports 10,542 vehicles sold, up 9.3 percent.

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.

Month-To-Date
Year-To-Date
February
February
%
February
February
%
2008
2007
Change
2008
2007
Change
Mazda3
            7,893
             8,666
(8.9)%
         14,472
          16,309
(11.3)%
Mazda5
            2,021
             1,565
29.1%
           3,720
           2,888
28.8%
Mazda6
            5,527
             5,557
(0.5)%
         11,860
          10,543
12.5%
MX-5 Miata
               924
             1,107
(16.5)%
           1,584
           2,092
(24.3)%
RX-8
               319
                492
(35.2)%
             579
              994
(41.8)%
Protégé 
                 -  
                  -  
N/A
               -  
                -  
N/A
CX-7
            3,185
             2,951
7.9%
           5,740
           5,717
0.4%
CX-9
            2,200
             1,168
88.4%
           4,050
           1,250
224.0%
Tribute
            1,386
                402
244.8%
           2,544
              762
233.9%
B-Series Truck
                 93
                151
(38.4)%
             211
              634
(66.7)%
MPV
                 -  
                   1
(100.0)%
               -  
              119
(100.0)%
Total Vehicles
CARS
           16,684
           17,387
(4.0)%
         32,215
          32,826
(1.9)%
TRUCKS
            6,864
             4,673
46.9%
         12,545
           8,482
47.9%
TOTAL
         23,548
          22,060
6.7%
        44,760
        41,308
8.4%
MEMO:
IMPORT CAR
           11,157
           11,830
(5.7)%
         20,355
          22,283
(8.7)%
IMPORT TRUCK
            5,385
             4,120
#
30.7%
           9,790
           7,086
38.2%
IMPORT TOTAL
         16,542
          15,950
3.7%
        30,145
        29,369
2.6%
DOMESTIC CAR
            5,527
             5,557
(0.5)%
         11,860
          10,543
12.5%
DOMESTIC TRUCK
            1,479
                553
167.5%
           2,755
           1,396
97.3%
DOMESTIC TOTALS
           7,006
            6,110
14.7%
        14,615
        11,939
22.4%
Note:  MPV & Protegé are discontinued vehicles.