Mazda is forecasting a rise of 34% in its sales in Spain this year, boosted by the updated 6 car line and heavy promotional efforts, external relations director Manuel Rivas said.
Go deeper with GlobalData
Discover B2B Marketing That Performs
Combine business intelligence and editorial excellence to reach engaged professionals across 36 leading media platforms.
The Spanish Mazda distribution operation plans to sell 18,000 units this year, up from nearly 12,000 in 2004, Rivas said.
Mazda also plans to open eight new dealers this year, expanding its Spanish network to 78 outlets, he added.
Mazda’s European model line includes the 2 (Demio) built in a Ford plant in Spain, and the Japanese-built 3, 6, Premacy and RX-8.
An updated 6 line will be introduced this summer and a sports version dubbed the MPS will follow later in the year, Rivas said.
Mazda is also expected to launch its new 5 minivan across Europe, including Spain, during 2005.
In the meantime, Mazda has launched a major advertising campaign to boost its market share to at least 1% in Spain, Europe’s fifth-biggest car market.
“Spain is one of Mazda’s most important European markets along with Italy,” Rivas noted.
The company is heavily promoting the 3 sedan and hatchback models launched last year, which compete head-to-head with Renault’s Megane (also a relatively new model and currently Spain’s best-selling car), Volkswagen’s Golf and Opel’s Astra (both of which were also launched last year).
Since launching as a factory-owned distributor in Spain in 2000, Mazda has seen its sales rise 237%, Rivas said.
Ivan Castano
