Private buyers might be shying away from new cars, but they’re not keeping away from the doors of Mazda dealers.  “Mazda UK has just had its best ever May helped by a strong performance by the new Mazda2 and in its Mediterranean offshoots Cyprus and Malta,” managing director Rob Lindley explained.

Sales in May were 3969 – just ahead of the previous best May in 2004 when sales hit 3956.  The right hand drive markets of Malta and Cyprus, which come under the control of the UK operation, sold a total of 124 cars for the month and resulted in Mazda UK breaking its May record.   “There’s great demand for Mazda2 and Mazda3 on the islands and we’re really delighted with the way they’re going. A total of 124 cars might not sound a lot for two markets but it’s more than double the figure from four years ago,” Lindley, pointing out that Mazda has a 4% market share in Cyprus, continued.

Back at home, Mazda saw its retail sales rise 17.8% in the retail sector in a month when the retail market was down 10.3% as the impact of the credit crunch begins to bite. Mazda’s retail sales for the year to date are up 28.6% while Mazda fleet sales are down as other manufacturers pile into the fleet sector to offset their falling retail sales. “I’ve said before we could hit 55–56,000 this year, up about 3-3,500 units on 2007. That will be quite a challenge but we will still see growth this year. Having the right models at the right time has helped. Mazda2 sales in the first five months hit 5435. That’s more than in the whole of last year,” Lindley explained.

Mazda3 is best seller on 5572 but the new Mazda6 is doing exceptionally well on 5381 and is proving especially popular among private buyers tempted by its best-in-class fuel efficiency.