Mazda revises up sale target
Play
Full-year target is boosted to 70,000 on overall industry rebound
Mazda Sales (Thailand) Co has raised its sales target for this year to 70,000 units, from 60,000 targeted previously, on rising overall demand in Thailand’s car market, which is expected to deliver more than 1.2 million units in 2012.
Managing director Choichi Yuki said that in the current second half of the year, the Thai automobile industry would enter a phase of intense competition, both in production for the high-demand domestic market and for export markets.
The domestic market is expected to grow by 50 per cent this year, and he believes Mazda has the potential to see record sales of almost 70,000 units.
During the second half the company is planning to introduce special models of its Mazda2, Mazda3 and BT-50 PRO line-ups.
Yuki said that although Mazda faced various obstacles during the first half, which also included the introduction of a large number of new models by various brands, the company came through well.
“Mazda has been able to maintain its customer base while attracting new customers all the time, including with the use of unique marketing strategies,” he said.
During the first six months, sales of Mazda vehicles in Thailand reached 30,577 units, equivalent to growth of 51 per cent year on year. The Mazda2, highly popular among students and fans of sporty subcompacts, contributed sales of 18,064 units, up 44 per cent compared with the same period in 2011.
Sales of the all-new BT-50 PRO pickup, with its sporty styling and passenger-car quality, were 10,155 units. The BT-50 is the fastest-growing Mazda model, with a sales increase of 108 per cent in the first half compared with the same period in 2011.
Another major product is the Mazda3 2.0 and the recently added 1.6 that has been delivered to customers since last month. Combined sales of the Mazda3 were 2,343 units.
In June, the Mazda2 Sport five-door hatchback was able to achieve sales of 1,392 units, the highest monthly performance so far this year, while sales of the Mazda2 Elegance four-door sedan hit 1,733 units, for a total of 3,125 units for both models.
Sales of the Mazda3 were 797 units, while sales of the BT-50 PRO surged to 2,379 units.
Mazda was able to smash its all-time record last month with sales of 6,301 units, up 61 per cent compared with June last year.
