Mazda to Launch MPV and Roadstar in China

SHANGHAI - September 22, 2008:

Mazda has announced plans to launch new passenger car models successively in China. Besides the MPV and sports Roadstar, the company also plans to restart production of hot-selling models in its Nanjing small car factory which is cutting production now, autosina.com said yesterday.

August new car sales declined 6.3% year on year in China. The market is seeing significantly slow purchasing. Mazda aims to strengthen its Chinese business through a flexible car launch system based on demand.

FAW Car Co., a Chinese partner of Mazda Motor Corp, will produce 20,000 Mazda MPVs a year initially and will start sales from 2009. The Roadstar is also expected to be exported to China from Japan and to go on sale in the Chinese market within the year. Targeting at the wealthier class in China, Mazda expects to improve its brand through launching relatively popular roadsters.

Due to weak sales of Mazda 2, Mazda’s Nanjing plant, which is currently cutting production, is expected to produce the hot-selling car Atenza. The joint venture sold 74,000 units in the first seven months of 2008 in China, up 37% year on year. From August, the plant planned to cut 5,000 slow-selling Mazda 2 within 2 months.