Mazda Motors Europe (MME), which in recent years has steadily replaced independent importers in most European markets with its own wholly-owned distribution units, on Friday said it would establish a national sales company (NSC) in Turkey.
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“This follows a structural reorganisation within Mazda Motor Corporation that has transferred responsibility for the Turkish market to Mazda Motor Europe,” the automaker said.
“This move is part of [our] successful ongoing strategy to establish wholly owned distribution subsidiaries in Europe. Over 90% of Mazda sales volume now comes from wholly-owned subsidiaries.”
MME president and CEO, James Muir, said the first priority in Turkey was to support existing owners. He added: “We will be taking a two-phase approach to the network in Turkey – first, service and repair, and second sales”.
The automaker recently outlined its future plans in Istanbul to interested repairers from across Turkey and over 80% have expressed an interest in signing new agreements with the new ‘factory shop’ importer.
It is expected that agreements will be signed and commence during October to ensure countrywide coverage for existing owners.
The new authorised repairer network will receive parts and accessories from the Mazda logistics centre in Belgium rather than direct from Japan, as previously.
Mazda last April announced plans to set up its own NSC for Belgium and Luxembourg and, in 2006, set up similar operations in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Russia.
