Mazda upbeat about 2015 sales outlook

3 new models lined up for second half

Japanese car maker Mazda Sales (Thailand) remains bullish about sales prospects this year despite falling figures the first six months.

Mazda reported yesterday its sales from January to June fell by 1.79% year-on-year to 16,837 vehicles, but its market share rose to 4.5% from 3.9% last year.

During the first six months, 43% of sales came from the Mazda2 SkyActiv eco-car, both diesel and gasoline, with 7,220 units sold in that period, up by 110%.

Sales of the Mazda3 SkyActiv, a medium-size passenger car, also rose by 4% to 3,751 vehicles in the same period.

Meanwhile, sales of the Mazda BT-50 pickup truck dropped by 42% to 4,117 vehicles over the first half of the year.

Likewise, the sports utility vehicle (SUV) Mazda CX-5 also saw sales decline by 42% to 1,734 units.

Sales of pickup trucks were not only affected by the overall sluggish market in light of low farm prices but also banks’ rejections of hire-purchase loans for pickup trucks, which rose to 50% from 30% last year.

However, Mazda remains optimistic its sales would grow 13.6% to 39,000 vehicles this year, said president Hidesuke Takesue.

“The market in the second half is likely to recover because sales of pickup trucks, passenger pickup trucks (PPVs) and SUVs are expected to surge, driven by the new excise tax effective early next year,” he said.

“The price of pickup trucks will increase by 1-2% in 2016 after the new tax becomes effective, while the prices of PPVs and SUVs are slated to increase by another 100,000 baht, or a whole 5% from current prices.”

The new tax regime is based on carbon dioxide emissions, E85-gasohol compatibility and fuel efficiency instead of engine size as before.

The excise tax on vehicles with carbon dioxide emissions below 100 grammes per kilometre will be cut to 12-14% for eco-cars from 17% at present, but the 10% tax rate for hybrid vehicles will remain unchanged.

Mazda plans to launch three models in the second half of the year — the new pickup truck BT-50, the sporty MX-5 and the small SUV CX-3.

Mr Takesue said he expects the overall market to shrink for a third straight year to 850,000 vehicles this year, down by 3.6% from 881,832 vehicles in 2014, which itself dropped sharply by 33.7%.

Mazda’s performance last year also fell by 35.1% to 34,326 vehicles.

Mazda was the first eco-car manufacturer to apply for the Board of Investment’s promotional incentives in the second phase, as well as one of five new car makers to apply.