Mazda claims to have squared the circle on the business car front with its new larger, lighter, more fuel efficient 6 by major cuts in CO2 levels and resultant savings in BIK taxation levels.
Building up to a 65% fleet split over five years the 6 has been the Hiroshima-based brand’s leading business car seller and Philip Waring, Mazda’s European sales vice president claimed the new model “offers a great opportunity to make more user chooser conquests”.
With CO2 reductions of up to 37g/km, (the new 2.5-litre petrol unit versus its 2.3-litre predecessor) James Hopkins, fleet director, highlighted a five-band reduction in tax liability on the 1.8-litre petrol hatchback, now down to 162g/km and from 24% to 19%.
Waring said the new 6 was not a “cloned Ford Mondeo” and used a Mazda platform while the company was confident it could sustain its large family sector position, which in reality would be a gain in a market area down 5% year-on-year.
It is believed that even cleaner and more fuel efficient in house diesel engines will be introduced on the 6 within 18-months.
Hopkins predicted that an orderly run out of the current model created “clear space” before the new car’s December sales release and consolidate existing strong RVs at around 30% at three years and 60,000 miles.
Waring said Mazda would continue to elevate brand perception. He reasoned: “We are the same size as BMW in production volume terms so we are not a true volume brand so arguably we are on the road to being sub premium or near premium, particularly with our sports cars.”
