2008 Outstanding Year For Mazda NZ

2008 Outstanding Year For Mazda NZ

2008 was a fantastic year for Mazda New Zealand as it recorded its ninth consecutive year of growth and its best year on record since the early 1980s selling 7,197 units.

This stellar result was 9.2% up on 2007 and enabled the company to achieve its goal of fourth spot in the market, a position it actually reached back in January 2008 and one which it maintained throughout the year.

Mazda New Zealand managing director Andrew Clearwater said he couldn’t have asked for a better result.

“To have sales over 9% up on the previous year and achieve fourth spot so early on and retain it was outstanding especially when you consider the tightening of the new vehicle market in the latter part of the year.

The result is down to the great efforts of the Mazda New Zealand team, the Mazda dealer network and our great range of vehicles that continue to prove extremely popular with the buying public.”

Strong sales for the all new Mazda6 launched in March 2008 enabled it to continue its reign as the best selling medium 4 cylinder car for an amazing 6th year and was ranked fifth best selling model in the market overall. The Mazda6 was also recently awarded the AMI/Autocar Medium Car of the Year for 2008.

Even though it is at the end of its model cycle the Mazda3 posted its best year ever making it the 8th most popular car in the market.

“The result for the Mazda3 gives us a lot of confidence that its new and very stylish replacement will prove to be even more popular when it is launched mid-2009,” said Clearwater.

Mazda’s other core models were also well received in 2008. The first full year of sales of the Mazda2 – the 2008 World Car of the Year and 2007 NZ Car of the Year – eclipsed 2007 sales by 170.8%. The iconic RX-8 also scooped an award winning NBR Sports Car of the Year.

2008 was also a busy and successful year for the Mazda Foundation. Treemendous School Makeovers - a joint initiative with Project Crimson - was launched which saw four schools have their grounds enhanced with native gardens.

The Mazda Foundation also partnered with Campbell Live in December to bring some Christmas cheer to five families who faced a tough Christmas due to a range of circumstances. Each family received $5,000 in shopping vouchers to help make Christmas a little easier.

Overall the Mazda Foundation distributed over $230,000 in grants to over 50 recipients involved in a wide range of events and activities.

Andrew Clearwater says the work of the Mazda Foundation is one that all the Mazda New Zealand team takes a great deal of pride in.

“We realise that whether a grant is large or small it can make a real difference to groups or individuals and we look forward to continuing the work of the Foundation in 2009.”

ENDS

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