Mazda Reports Double Digit Sales Increase for Third Straight Month

IRVINE, Calif. /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported its best October since 2001 with U.S. sales of 22,201 units, a 17.8 percent increase versus the same period last year. Year-to-date sales of 250,597 are up 9.9 percent year-over-year.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) celebrated its best-ever sales month with 1,532 vehicles sold representing an increase of 91 percent over October 2006. On a year-to-date basis, MMdM reported 13,074 total sales, an increase of 141 percent.

Rounding out North America, Mazda Canada, Inc. reported its best October since 1997 with sales of 6,040 units, accounting for a 1.0 percent increase versus last year. On a year-to-date basis, sales are up 8.4 percent with 77,133 units sold.

The three-row, seven-passenger Mazda CX-9 crossover SUV, which was recently named 2008 Sport/Utility of the Year(TM) by Motor Trend, recorded its best-ever sales month with 3,145 units. This also marks the first time CX-9 has eclipsed the 3,000-unit mark in a single month. Mazda's two other crossover SUVs -- CX-7 and Tribute -- also posted strong sales of 3,280 and 1,516 units respectively. To date, Mazda has sold more than 66,000 crossover SUVs.

With October sales of 8,157 units, the wildly popular MAZDA3 has surpassed the 100,000-unit mark for the year, making it MAZDA3's best-ever year with two months still remaining. Its previous best year was in 2005 when it recorded 97,388 units sold.

"As changeable as this month has been -- from the continual rise of oil prices to the California wildfires -- sales started strong and stayed that way all month for us," said Jim O'Sullivan, MNAO President and CEO. "As we look toward the end of the year, Mazda's strong sales numbers are proof that we're selling the right cars at the right price, and this is bringing the right customers into our dealerships."

Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.