Mazda opens three training centers in China

Mazda Motor (China) Co., Ltd., Mazda Motor Corporation’s management affiliate in the Chinese market, on March 25 announced that it has opened new training centers in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.

Mazda (China) will use the centers to provide improved training, mainly for the employees of its two distributors in China: FAW Mazda Motor Sales Co., Ltd. (FMSC) and Changan Mazda (CAM). Changan Mazda is a sales department established within Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd. The training centers will also be used by each distributor to provide training for dealer management and sales staff, as well as service personnel.

Mazda (China) established the three training centers as part of its efforts to strengthen Mazda’s sales structure, a major element of Mazda’s strategy for growth in China. Mazda aims to further improve customer satisfaction by providing the best sales assistance, vehicle servicing and customer service in the industry.

Previously, FMSC and CAM conducted training programs independently at various facilities. The new Mazda (China) Training Centers will complement the current system by providing enhanced capacity and accessibility in three major Chinese cities.

Staff training will cover areas such as management, sales, and customer service. Management training will teach participants the skills they need to run a dealership, and sales staff training will focus on improving business communication skills. Several levels of training will be made available for technicians and service advisors. The three training centers will accommodate approximately 5,000 trainees each year.

Mazda's sales network in China expanded rapidly over the past year. The number of FMSC dealerships increased from 92 in January 2008 to 126 by the end of February 2009. During the same period, CAM grew from 52 to 92 outlets. As Mazda continues to expand its sales network going forward, it will strive to further improve customer satisfaction levels by focusing on human resources development at its distributors and sales outlets.