Mazda hopes to see Chinese sales recover in early 2013

Gasgoo.com (Shanghai November 26) - In a recent statement made at the Guangzhou International Automobile Exhibition, Mazda China CEO Noriaki Yamada said that he believes that Chinese sales will recover in the first quarter of 2013. "We hope that demand for Japanese vehicles in the entire [Chinese] automotive market will recover to normal levels by next April," Mr. Yamada was quoted as saying in a China Business News report appearing today.

Mazda has already reduced its sales target for the year from 250,000 units to 185,000 units. Despite several consumers ordering returns, the manufacturer still managed to sell 23,000 vehicles in September and October. Mr. Yamada believes that the sales figure is a notable achievement for Mazda in a tough Chinese market.

The Chinese market currently accounts for 15 percent of Mazda's sales globally, compared to 19 percent earlier this year. Although sales of Mazda and other Japanese brand fell sharply following escalations of Sino-Japanese political tensions, Mr. Yamada pointed out that increasing demand in Southeast Asia helped balance the manufacturer's overall performance. Mazda's global sales target of 1.25 million vehicles has not been reduced.