HIROSHIMA, Japan— Auto Bild, Germany’s largest car magazine, has ranked Mazda in first place in its highly respected “Quality Report” for 2007, which was published on June 8. This was the third straight year that Mazda has been awarded first place in this annual report.

First conducted in 2001, Auto Bild’s Quality Report compiles the result of seven criteria – endurance tests, car owner surveys (22,795 Auto Bild subscribers), recalls, Germany’s Technische Uberwachung Verein (TUV) report, customer complaints at Auto Bild, type of warranties and the quality of dealerships based on secret service tests – for a comprehensive picture of quality in Europe’s largest market according to brand.

As was the case during the previous two reports, Mazda quality was evident in all aspects of the survey. Especially strong results were achieved in categories reflecting long-term quality: on the TUV report (roadworthiness inspections for cars that are two and three years old) and on Auto Bild’s 100,000 kilometer Endurance Test – where the new Mazda5 is currently halfway through the test with no breakdowns.

Mazda also scored high on the owner survey for low repair frequency and high body build quality, which enabled the brand to improve on 2006’s excellent result. Results in this year’s report reflecting customer satisfaction and warranty performance –traditional strengths of Mazda models – were once again very positive.

“We’re especially honored that in 2007 Mazda was chosen the winner of Auto Bild’s Quality Report for the third time,” said Dan Morris, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of marketing, sales and customer service. “This prestigious award is a recognition of the quality of the design and manufacturing built into every Mazda vehicle. And it gives us more confidence as we move forward with our plans to bring even greater levels of quality to all aspects of the Mazda Zoom-Zoom car owning experience for our customers worldwide.”