Mazda to Showcase Nine Zoom-Zoom Products at 2004 Beijing International Auto Show

- Awarding-winning Mazda RX-8 on display for first time ever in China -

“Auto shows are a great way to reach consumers, and this year, in China, nothing will be bigger than the Beijing show,” said Stephen Odell, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of global Marketing, Sales and Customer Service. “This show is particularly exciting for Mazda, as we have had great success in the growing Chinese market. Our sales, at over 80,000 units last year, are strong, and our products are highly evaluated by customers and the media. Mazda won Car of the Year in China for 2004. This is an exciting market - it is no surprise that the Beijing show is now attracting significant international attention.”

Auto China 2004, to be held at the China International Exhibition Center, opens to the press on June 9, to industry members on June 10, and is open to the general public from June 11 through 16.

Mazda’s theme for Auto China 2004 is “Zoom-Zoom to the Future,” and vehicles on display have been carefully selected to further demonstrate the appeal and power of Mazda’s Zoom-Zoom brand, and to show Chinese consumers the type of exciting Mazda products that are available in other world markets.

“It is not by chance we are showing a full product line in China,” added Odell. “We would like to give Chinese customers more choice, and we’d like to see more growth in this market. ”

Mazda’s three locally produced vehicles - Mazda6 (Japanese name: Atenza), Premacy and Mazda323, all of which are assembled in China through successful partnerships with FAW Group companies - will be joined in China for the first time by two world-famous Mazda sports cars, the RX-8 and MX-5 (Japanese name: Roadster) and Mazda’s successful MPV.
Additionally, three concept cars that provide an indication of Mazda’s future product direction will be shown to media and consumers alike. The concepts include the MX-Micro Sport, a small car concept; the Washu, a future generation six-seat concept; and the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, a clean energy vehicle that can run on either hydrogen or gasoline.

Mazda in China
Mazda has enjoyed rapid growth in China since the introduction of Premacy in June 2001 and Mazda323 (Japanese name: Mazda Familia) in July 2002, both built and distributed in a partnership with FAW Hainan Motor Company (FHC). In April 2003, through a partnership with FAW Car Company, the Mazda6 (Japanese name: Mazda Atenza) was introduced to great success: in December, Mazda6 was named “Car of the Year for 2004 in China.”

With each vehicle introduction, sales have steadily and rapidly grown. Mazda posted 80,075 sales during 2003, a 350 percent increase over 2002. And the company is projecting further growth and success in 2004, with sales expected to reach 110,000 units. The dealer network in China is also expanding steadily, as there are currently 144 exclusive Mazda outlets. With further new products introductions, Mazda will encourage expansion of the dealer networks.

To follow its current success in China, Mazda is working to achieve solid, long-term business growth and stability in the fast-expanding market. As a mid-term goal, Mazda will build a system to sell 300,000 units in China in 2010, and will execute the following actions:

- Fully develop Mazda’s “Zoom-Zoom” brand strategy in China
- Add eight models to Mazda’s product line-up in 3 to 4 years
- Establish a distributor to expand dealer networks
- Secure a new production site to expand Mazda’s production system

Mazda’s success in China is in line with the company’s overall global success. Fiscal 2003 results, announced this past May, showed continued steady growth in sales, revenue and profit. FY2003 operating profit, at 70.2 billion yen, was up 39 percent from FY2002 and the largest for Mazda in a past decade.

Mazda Motor Corporation, a global automotive name since the early 1960s, sold more than 1,068,400 vehicles in 140 countries in 2003. Based in Hiroshima, where it was founded in 1920, Mazda is the world’s only maker of petrol-, diesel- and rotary-powered vehicles. Driven by new-generation models that reflect its Zoom-Zoom brand focus, Mazda was the world’s fastest-growing automaker in 2003. And with more than 140 prestigious automotive awards since June 2002, Mazda also ranks as the world’s most award-winning automotive brand during the past two years.