HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that operations began today at its newly-established national sales company (NSC) in Taiwan, MAZDA Motor Taiwan (MMT). MMT will proactively plan and implement branding and sales strategies, aiming to increase sales in Taiwan.

Mazda began selling vehicles in Taiwan in 1959, and since 1998 all sales-related activities including sales and customer service have been carried out through Ford Distribution Taiwan Ltd. (FDTL). Mazda's vehicles are selling well in Taiwan, especially models that feature SKYACTIV technology such as the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda6 (known as Atenza in Japan). Sales in the country in the fiscal year ended March 2014 were up almost 18 percent over the previous year.

MMT will take over FDTL's sales network and assume control of all sales-related activities. Moving forward, MMT aims to further enhance its sales structure and the Mazda brand in Taiwan. Ford Lio Ho Motor Co., Ltd. (FLH) currently produces the Mazda3 (Axela in Japan) and Mazda5 (Premacy in Japan) in Taiwan on a consignment basis and this arrangement will continue unchanged.

Regarding the start of operations at MMT, Nobuhide Inamoto, Mazda's Director and Senior Managing Executive Officer overseeing operations in China, said, "Mazda is implementing brand value management, enhancing our sales and aftersales service, and now we are promoting it overseas as well. In doing so, we aim to grow into a 'One and Only' brand on a global scale. By offering the joy of driving to all our customers in Taiwan, and around the world, we hope to enrich peoples' lives and build a strong and enduring bond with our customers."

Outline of new NSC in Taiwan