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Mazda enjoys market share high
Date: 03 April 2009 | Author: Tom Webster
Mazda has enjoyed its best ever start to 2009 in terms of market share, according to UK managing director Jeremy Thompson.
"January and February has been our best ever start to a year, and 2008 saw our best ever market share," said Thompson.
Market share for the brand for January and February 2009 was up 0.3% to 2.3% on the same period last year.
Thompson also claimed the brand had sold out of its stock of the old model of Mazda 3 and expected sales of the recently launched replacement to reach between 11,000 and 12,000.
However, he claimed the company is not recession proof, saying the current situation is "having an affect on profitability".
Exchange rates were one reason highlighted.
"The Pound to Yen exchange rate makes it difficult," said Thompson. "You need a lean business model as it is a very, very competitive environment."
He explained Mazda's recent policy of declining daily rental business, saying: "Rental companies are having a tough time; RVs are sensitive and we're too small to bring in lots of cars on buy back focussed agreements. Our ability to recycle business is limited."
However, he acknowledged the benefit of daily rental, saying: "It can be a good opportunity to get people in cars." He cited this as one of the reasons behind the early success of the upper medium Mazda 6.
