Mazda posts 2 per cent global sales gain

Mazda Motor Corp sold 1,301,581 vehicles worldwide in fiscal 2006, up 2.0 per cent from the previous year, with brisk overseas sales more than offsetting a decrease in the domestic market, the automaker said.

Sales in North America, including Mexico, increased 8.0 per cent to 380,002 vehicles, led by a 7.3 per cent rise in US sales to 280,589 units - the best sales performance in the region in 12 years.

Mazda also posted an all-time high in sales in Canada to 83,624 vehicles, up 4.2 per cent.

In Europe, sales grew 6.7 per cent to 301,167 vehicles, the largest sales volume in 15 years, with sales setting record highs in Britain, Russia, Spain and Portugal.

The strong growth of sales overseas was driven by continuously brisk demand for the Mazda3 and Mazda5, known in Japan as the Axela and Premacy, respectively, the automaker said.

But sales in Japan contracted 8.6 per cent to 260,610 vehicles.

Source: AAP 2007

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