Mazda EU sales growth for 16th successive quarter

Mazda has recorded its 16th consecutive quarter of sales growth in Europe, with a slight year-on-year increase between July and September to just under 61,000 units. Turnover of its popular SUVs – particularly the Mazda CX-3 – bolstered the performance of the company, which, according to Mazdas’s internal data, held a 1.7% share of the European market during the period.

Portugal led among national markets, posting 47% sales growth during the quarter on the strength of the CX-3 and Mazda3, followed by Italy, up 32% on robust demand across the model line-up. Mazda also saw double-digit gains in France (+14%) and Poland (+11%) as well as several smaller markets including Croatia, Finland, Hungary, Ireland and Slovenia. Germany and Spain, meanwhile, recorded increases of 3% and 7%, respectively.

With sales surging 38% in Europe compared to the third quarter of 2015, the CX-3 is now the most popular new Mazda in eight European markets and a close second overall to the Mazda CX-5, its larger SUV sibling. The latter remains number one in key countries like Germany and Spain. Together the two models represented 45% of Mazda’s European turnover. Otherwise, demand for the Mazda3 remained resilient prior to the introduction of the updated 2017 model. The compact made up 22% of Mazda’s sales in Europe last quarter.

“These are certainly exciting times at Mazda. We’ve been busy, launching for example an innovative new handling-enhancing technology called G-Vectoring Control, initially with the 2017 Mazda6 and 2017 Mazda3,” says Martijn ten Brink, vice president sales & customer service at Mazda Motor Europe. “We also began production last week of the Mazda MX-5 RF, the new retractable fastback version of our award-winning two seater that will go on sale in Europe early next year.”