Mazda eyes 18% sales growth after strong year
AFTER achieving 8 per cent sales growth in Thailand in 2016, Mazda has set a growth target of 18 per cent for 2017 based on positive factors, the company said.
In 2016, Mazda sold 42,537 vehicles in the Kingdom and the target for 2017 is 50,000 units.
Auto sales in Thailand declined by 4 per cent last year, finishing at approximately 767,000 units compared with 797,242 units in 2015.
“There are no negative factors this year,” said Chanchai Trakarnudonsuk, president of Mazda Sales (Thailand) Co Ltd (MST). “We expect the financial package from the government will help stimulate the market, and favourable agricultural prices are expected to help boost the pickup truck market. Meanwhile, about 10 per cent of first-car buyers will be eligible to replace their vehicles.”
Mazda, which was the Japanese auto brand with the highest growth last year, plans to launch six new models in Thailand this year, including two all-new models – the CX9 and the MX-5 hardtop, which are not high-volume models. Also set to be released are upgraded versions of four existing models, namely the Mazda3, Mazda2, CX-3 and CX-5, which will all come with Mazda’s new SKYACTIV-vehicle dynamics system for improved ride and handling.
Chanchai is the first Thai to be appointed president of MST, which was previously headed by Japanese nationals.
“This shows the trust that Mazda Motor Corporation have in the capability of Thai employees at Mazda,” he said. “It also helps with communications and understanding the culture, allowing employees to work together more effectively.”
Along with the sales growth, Mazda’s market share has also grown, from 4.9 per cent in 2015 to 5.5 per cent in 2016.
Executive vice president Atsushi Yasumoto said Thailand was a highly important market for Mazda.
“Thailand is the 10th largest market for Mazda in the world and last year our market share in Thailand grew by 0.7 per cent, making Thailand our fastest-growing market globally, and second after Australia in terms of market share,” he said.
Senior marketing director Thee Permpongpanth said this year Mazda would strengthen its brand so that it became even more |premium in terms of products and services.
“This year apart from the six new models to be launched, customers will also get to experience the latest Mazda technology called SKYACTIV-vehicle dynamics that will make its debut in the minor-changed Mazda3 to be launched on January 24,” he said.
