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The new Mazda 6 will mark a "tremendous restart" for the carmaker in the fleet sector, according to UK managing director Jeremy Thompson, particularly following the brand's uncompetitive CO2 emissions that "became apparent in the last couple of years".
Thompson said: "It has been three or four hard years for Mazda, particularly in the corporate sector - 70% of our sales are retail at the moment and I would like to see more of a balance in that split.
"The emphasis is on core fleets and contract hire business, and this car is a tremendous opportunity to get back in with them."
Although the CX-5 was in short supply, the new 6 will have good availability, while a 2.2-litre diesel with Skyactiv technology offering 108g/km CO2 gives Mazda "a clear market position". An even cleaner 104g/km version is due in April.
"It's an important soundbite. But it's only half the battle as the pragmatic applies, but also kerb appeal.
"Skyactiv is the pragmatic reason to consider us but the strength of the design does have a very strong draw as well," he said.
Contract hire rates for the 6 will become available this month and Thompson said there is a "crucial opportunity to capture sales in the last quarter of the year, translating to delivery early next year".
He added that Mazda wanted to put cars on fleet policy lists ahead of its physical launch. Nonetheless, fleet demos will arrive in December to offer test drives to as many existing fleet customers as possible.
Thompson also intends to divert the attention of Mazda's retail sales team to the project to "cascade the 6 to as many people as possible".
Starting from £19,595 and with first deliveries in January 2013, Thompson said he wants to have all the info on the car available to fleets: "We want fleet
to have full visibility on what we're bringing out as early as possible." He also said that all of Mazda's models would have Skyactiv tech by 2014 and that more powertrains will be common across the models to improve choice.
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