HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has beaten its full-year sales forecast for fiscal year (FY) 2007, announcing that consolidated global retail sales exceeded 1.36 million vehicles. This is an increase of nearly 5 percent over FY2006 and is Mazda’s best recorded consolidated global sales result achieved since FY2000.

A total of 12 overseas markets^* achieved their best ever sales in FY2007 with Europe also celebrating a very successful year with record sales of 326,586 units – a 7.4 percent increase from a year ago. This is Mazda’s best sales performance in the region in 17 years. Three countries - the UK, Russia and Portugal - set new fiscal year sales records while other key markets, including France and Austria, also achieved year-on-year sales gains.

In a challenging market, Mazda’s North American operation achieved a year-on-year increase of 6.8 percent, with sales in the United States at 294,725 units, up 5.0 percent. Canada and Mexico both reported best ever results in FY2007, with Canada up 5.8 percent year-on-year to 88,507 units, and Mexico recording a significant 84.0 percent increase with 18,011 unit sales.

Mazda sold 255,741 vehicles in its home market of Japan in FY2007, and achieved a 0.2 percent increase in market share, to 4.8 percent. In other key markets, Australia and Israel each achieved another year of best ever sales, at 79,292 units, up 18.0 percent, and 34,673 units, a 57.8 percent increase, respectively.

Mazda’s global sales volume increase of 4.7 percent over FY2006 to 1,363,022 units was driven by continued healthy global sales of Mazda3 (known as the Mazda Axela in Japan), and strong sales of the 2008 World Car of the Year award-winning Mazda2 (Demio in Japan), which was launched in July 2007 to global markets. Also contributing significantly were the brisk sales of Mazda CX-9, which won the 2008 North American Truck of the Year accolade.

Daniel T. Morris, senior managing executive officer responsible for marketing and overseas sales, said, “This was an outstanding global sales result for the first year of the Mazda Advancement Plan. Our efforts have resulted in Mazda selling more than 1.36 million units globally, another year of consistent sales growth.

“These excellent results are due to the tireless efforts of Mazda employees, our distributors, dealers and suppliers, and all the people who do business with us, working together as one team. I’m especially pleased to see the enthusiastic reception our products are receiving from customers around the world, and we appreciate them putting their trust in the Mazda brand.”

“Mazda has recorded brisk sales of the all-new Demio and Atenza, and actually increased its market share despite the industry slowdown and very challenging sales conditions in Japan,” said Masazumi Wakayama, Mazda’s senior managing executive officer in charge of domestic business and customer service. “The second half of the fiscal year also saw Mazda increase sales by 2.1 percent compared to 2006, showing that people are responding very positively to our products.”

Based on the Mazda Advancement Plan roadmap, Mazda is aiming for further product-led growth while striving to improve brand value and business efficiency. The Hiroshima-based company is committed to delivering vehicles of the highest quality and providing exceptional service to its many valued customers around the world. Looking ahead with optimism, Mazda will never waiver in providing a driving experience with its hallmark Zoom-Zoom DNA, by offering cars that “look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them again.”

FY2007 Retail Sales by Region

N.B. Excluding the impact of discontinued production of Mazda brand vehicles in Hainan, China, Mazda’s retail sales in China increased 90.6 percent year-on-year.

Retail Sales by Model

* The UK, Russia, Portugal, Canada, Mexico, Australia, New Zealand, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Chile, Ecuador, and Venezuela