[Takashi Yamanouchi, Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO]

Good morning everyone.
Thank you for being here so early this morning for the Mazda press conference.

Two years have passed since the last Tokyo Motor Show, when we announced our SKYACTIV Technology for the first time. At that time, even experts looked skeptical about Mazda's technology. It wasn't until we started prototype test drives last summer that people started saying, "Maybe Mazda is serious," and, "Mazda is making good on its promise after all." I myself still clearly remember when I first drove our SKYACTIV diesel. My hands were shaking from the overwhelming acceleration and the pure enjoyment of the drive, and with my heart beating fast, I was desperate to show it to the world as soon as possible.

And then this year we launched two products equipped with some of our SKYACTIV Technology – the Demio in June and the Axela/Mazda3 in September. As a viable eco-friendly alternative to electric vehicles and hybrids, this new type of 'alternative eco-car' has become a hot topic; more and more people are becoming aware of SKYACTIV; and sales of our SKYACTIV models are strong. But I am sure you are all thinking, "Any of the brands could have tried to improve existing technologies – but how did Mazda manage it?"

The name SKYACTIV has its origins in the term "The SKY is the limit." It expresses the spirit that is driving our engineers in their development work. They developed SKYACTIV with a belief in unlimited possibilities. They broke down the boundaries between departments and together, they began to design and development our new technologies from scratch, always aiming to achieve the ideal. These efforts were not limited to engineering – in production, sales, and every area of the company, we revisited and transformed our current processes. Our moderate size was one factor that made this possible.

But it did not stop there. The other key point, which we must not forget, is Mazda's spirit. As you saw in the introductory video, Mazda is overflowing with the desire to 'never stop challenging.' This was evident when we launched the Cosmo Sport, the first production model with a rotary engine; when we won at Le Mans with that rotary engine; when we launched our 2-seat open-top roadster, the MX-5. Never tied down by convention, we have continued to relentlessly pursue our dreams. I believe that this is part of our DNA that made SKYACTIV possible.

At the venue here today we have many Mazda models on display that embody the Mazda DNA that I have just described. I would like to highlight two of those cars, which are making their debut at the show this year.

First is the Japanese specification CX-5. This is our first production model to fully incorporate all the SKYACTIV technologies, with new engines, body, chassis and transmissions, as well as the KODO – Soul of Motion design theme. This, our first full SKYACTIV model, will be launched globally in the rapidly growing crossover SUV segment, and we are confident it will become one of our core models. We will be starting sales of both the gasoline and diesel versions of the CX-5 in Japan from spring next year. The CX-5 strikes a fine balance between refined and exciting driving, and outstanding environmental and safety performance. The SKYACTIV-D 2.2 and SKYACTIV-Drive models equipped with i-stop will achieve fuel efficiency of 18.6km/L, the best fuel efficiency of any SUV on sale in Japan.

Now I would like to introduce another model which represents a further evolution of SKYACTIV Technology. Here it is.

This car is neither an electric vehicle nor a hybrid. Equipped with the SKYACTIV-D 2.2 diesel engine, our 6-speed SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission, i-stop, and our new regenerative braking system which we call i-ELOOP, this car will achieve fuel efficiency that is as high as a hybrid, overwhelming dynamic performance, and a cruising distance of 1,500 kilometers, all without electric motor assistance. With our uncompromising pursuit of energy efficiency using the internal combustion engine, this model is SKYACTIV at its peak – a concept car that you could say is the ultimate 'alternative eco-car'.

'Comprehensively innovate our core technologies, and progressively launch electric devices, so that we offer all customers driving pleasure as well as outstanding environmental and safety performance without excessive cost' – this is Mazda's Building Block Strategy. And this is the concept car that embodies that strategy – Mazda TAKERI.

In TAKERI we have adopted the KODO – Soul of Motion design theme, which expresses the strength and beauty in the instantaneous movement of an animal. Its forceful yet alluring styling has not been seen in a midsize sedan before. Please take some time to look at it more closely later.

2011 marks exactly ten years since Mazda first launched our Zoom-Zoom brand message at the Tokyo Motor Show in 2001. We defined the Mazda brand DNA as 'Stylish, Insightful, Spirited,' and we have consistently applied this to all of our product development and marketing activities over the past ten years. Our stance remains the same: We offer today, and will continue to offer in the future, an exciting driving experience to people who still to cherish the emotion of motion that they first felt as children.

Mazda aims to be a brand with a unique presence, with strong ties to customers who want excitement from their car and who give us such strong support.

Today, we are turning a new page in the history of the Mazda brand. Mazda's challenging spirit has no limits. At our stand, I hope you will be able to feel Mazda's desire to continue to evolve in pursuit of the step beyond environmental performance - driving pleasure.

Thank you.