Sales momentum continued last month at Mazda Motor Europe, which recorded a volume of 25,300 units, the company’s best May for volume in 14 years. This is nearly 3,900 units and 18 percent more than May 2005. So far in this calendar year (January-May 2006), sales are up by 16 per cent, with a volume of 133,250 units, making the Mazda brand one of Europe’s fastest growing for the period.

All markets contributed to these outstanding results, with five markets having record or near-record months. Once again Russia lead the way with its best single month ever for volume, at 2,600 units, which is up 66 per cent year-on-year, and that market’s 41st consecutive month of double-digit growth or better. May records were set in Spain for volume, at 1,650 units, up 13 per cent, and for predicted market share of 0.9 per cent and in Portugal for volume, at 400 units, up 35 per cent and for estimated industry market share, at 1.6 percent.

France achieved its best May volume in 15 years, at 1,200 units, up 14 per cent; and Greece had its best May volume since 1992, at 620 units, up 6 percent.

Germany had another outstanding month in May, with a volume of 6,300 units (official KBA registrations), which is up 24 per cent year-on-year. Other markets reporting outstanding sales results were Switzerland, up 49 per cent, Finland, up 48 per cent, Sweden, up 32 per cent and Holland, up 29 per cent year-on-year. Austria (including South Eastern European countries) was up 30 per cent in May, Norway was up 14 per cent and Denmark six per cent. These two markets, plus Sweden’s outstanding performance, meant Mazda’s Scandinavian organisation sold 1,360 vehicles in May, increasing sales across the region by 15 per cent versus May 2005.