Mazda: U.S. Market Looking More European, Canadian
February 29, 2008

By Joseph Szczesny

DETROIT — After starting the year with a 10 percent sales increase in January, Jim O'Sullivan, president of Mazda North America, said the automaker is holding its own during what has been a difficult February.

“We’re still seeing some strength in Mazda3 and Mazda5,” said O’Sullivan, who was in Detroit to promote the redesigned 2008 Mazda5. “The 10-days sales numbers I saw were a mixed bag.”

Indeed, Edmunds.com is forecasting that when automakers post February sales figures Monday, they will show a 2.3 percent decline from February 2007, but a 16.8-percent improvement over January.

O'Sullivan noted the poor weather in places such as the Northeast have had an impact on the industry's overall monthly sales figures.

“The first half of the year is going to be relatively tough,” he said.  “The second half  — we hope — will be better, primarily because we have the new Mazda6 launch. We think we'll be very competitive. We're pretty excited about it," he said.

U.S. Looking More European
O'Sullivan said he believes the American car market, as distinct from the truck market, is beginning to look more like the European and Canadian car markets. He said C-segment cars, such as the Mazda3 and Ford Focus, continue to grow and B-segment cars, such as the Honda Fit and Nissan Versa, are becoming more prominent and also the small but spacious people movers, such as the Mazda5, are gaining interest.

“The Mazda5 is a very important vehicle for Mazda globally. The space wagon segment is one of the fastest-growing segments in Europe, and we do very well with it in Asia,” said O'Sullivan, adding it is also popular in the Eurocentric Eastern provinces of Canada. “We think it's going to provide growth for us in the long term here,” he said.

Photos by Mazda
1 - 2008 Mazda5
2 - Mazda's Jim O'Sullivan
3 - 2008 Mazda5 interior

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