Mazda to launch 4 new models to China in '09

Shanghai, December 10 (Gasgoo.com) Mazda Motor is set to launch four new models to the Chinese market in 2009, said auto.sohu.com today. The Japanese automaker has decided to expand its growth in China, its top priority market, after buying back its shares from the troubled partner Ford Motor.

In 2009, the second-generation Mazda 6 ("Ruiyi" in Chinese) will come to the Chinese market in March, the high-end MPV Mazda 8 will be made in China, the SUV model Mazda CX-7 will be imported to the China market, and the newly launched second-generation Mazda 3 will also land in China next year. The new Mazda 3 will have its sedan and hatchback editions available to Chinese buyers.

Mazda China's sales grew rapidly in the first ten months of 2008 as a result of dealership network restructuring and product lineup expansion. From January to October, Mazda sold 105,000 cars in China, up 27% year on year and 11% higher than the industry average in the same period. The two sales networks of Changan Mazda and FAW Mazda now have 200 4S stores together, and the dealership will expand further next year. Three Mazda training centers are being built in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Mazda Motor looks to China as its No.1 growth market. With more of its new models to be made in and imported to this country, Mazda will be jump-starting its all-out expansion of the product lineup, sales networks, after-sales services and brand buildup in the China’s auto market.

After Ford Motor was hit by the financial crisis earlier this year, Mazda bought back from the U.S. partner its stake in their Chinese joint venture Changan Ford Mazda, and this is likely to speed up the Japanese carmaker's growth pace in the China market.