Mazda built new sales network for Mazda3

Chang'an Ford Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd., co-formed by China's Chang'An Auto Group, US Ford Motor Co., and Japan's Mazda Motor Corp., has started creating a separate sales network for Mazda 3 in China.

Chang'an Ford Mazda will set up a string of independent franchise dealers for its future models under the Mazda brand starting on January 1, 2008. Mazda models made by Chang'an Ford Mazda and FAW will be sold in two separate networks in the country. This separation hopefully will serve as an impetus to spur the sluggish Mazda 3 sales. Where only 12,800 units were sold since it resumed production this past March.

After the separation Chang'an Ford Mazda will focus on low- and medium-end models while FAW Mazda Motor Sales Co., Ltd., a joint venture between Mazda Motor and China FAW Group Corp, will concentrate on selling high-end models. By the end of this year, Chang'an Ford Mazda will start to produce Mazda 2 at its Nanjing plant and will also import Mazda 5's to China. FAW Mazda also plans to sell imported Mazda 3 hatchback's in the Chinese market.

The newly-developed Mazda 3 is equipped with 2.0L engine, which offers better low-end performance with more power, torque and fuel efficiency than its predecessor, and the 2.0L engine boasts important technical advances such as VIS (Variable Intake System) and S-VT (Sequential Valve Timing). Mazda 3 1.6L has also entered market recently, offering customers more engines than in previous years.