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Mazda: EU sales up 21% in 2015, 41% in Q4

Mazda was one of the fast growing carmakers on the EU market again in 2015, posting a 21% year-on-year increase. The company sold 211,000 vehicles here during the past 12 months, its third consecutive year of growth in the 20% range. The performance was well ahead of the overall market, which expanded by 9.2%, enabling Mazda to hike its European market share to 1.5%1.

Mazda closed the year on an especially positive note, with unit turnover rising by 41% in the final three months of 2015 - its 13th successive quarter of increases - and 56% in December. Mazda2 sales soared, up 45% for the year to more than 36,000 and 55% in the final three months. New additions to the carmaker's hugely popular current model generation also boosted the results. The all-new Mazda MX-5 roadster launched in the autumn drove an almost fourfold increase for that model in the fourth quarter, while the Mazda CX-3, the company's first small SUV, sold more than 25,000 times since its arrival in summer. Turnover of the Mazda3 compact was up 5% year-on-year in 2015 despite being in its second full year on the market2.

In the countries, sales surged by 54% last year in Spain, which led growth among the five biggest national markets, followed by France (up 39%) and Italy (+36%). All three surpassed the 60% mark during the fourth quarter. The UK and Germany, meanwhile, saw 20% and 11% growth for the year, respectively, or 18% and 32% for the quarter. Elsewhere, the Netherlands (+52%), Slovenia (+47%), Turkey (+35%), Portugal (+34%), Switzerland and Belgium (both +32%), topped the list. These six markets and several others also closed 2015 on a high, with the Netherlands, Switzerland, Ireland and Cyprus more than doubling their fourth quarter unit turnover relative to the same period in 20143.

"Figures obviously don't tell the whole story or shed light on the challenges we faced as individuals in 2015, but this is truly a great result," said Mazda Motor Europe's Vice President Sales Martijn ten Brink. "Particularly the fact that we closed out the year on such a high note. And 2016 promises to be another exciting year."

The company produced its three-millionth new-generation vehicle in November, four years to the month after the first - a Mazda CX-5 - rolled off a Hiroshima production line in 2011. All six models available in Europe (including the Mazda6 flagship) feature efficient lightweight drivetrains and platforms from the SKYACTIV Technology suite underneath their inspired KODO - Soul of Motion exteriors. This recipe, based on uncompromising driving fun, has earned Mazda more than 200 awards worldwide including three of the past four Car of the Year Japan titles (for the CX-5, Mazda2 and MX-5) as well as top marks in J.D. Power customer satisfaction and vehicle dependability studies. Manufacturing and assembly currently take place at facilities in Japan and six other countries.

1) Source for European data: www.acea.be (European Automobile Manufacturers Association), New Passenger Car Registrations, EU + EFTA

2) Source for model data: Mazda internal figures

3) Sources for national figures: www.ccfa.fr (French Automobile Manufacturers Association); www.kba.de (German Federal Motor Transport Authority); www.beepbeep.ie (Society of the Irish Motor Industry); www.en.anfia.it (Italian Automotive Industry Association); www.raivereniging.nl (RAI, Dutch Bicycle and Automobile Industry Association); www.autoinforma.pt (Automobile Association of Portugal, Data Centre); www.anfac.com (Spanish Association of Car & Truck Manufacturers); bilsweden.se (Swedish Association of Automobile Manufacturers and Importers); www.auto-schweiz.ch (Auto Schweiz / Suisse importer's association); smmt.co.uk (UK Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders), supplemented by Mazda internal figures.