- December U.S. Sales up 25.2 Percent; CY '07 U.S. Sales up 10.2 Percent -

IRVINE, Calif. -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today announced its best December sales total in the U.S. since 1994, with 24,933 units sold, up 25.2 percent over December 2006. CY '07 also marks Mazda's best sales year in the U.S. since 1994 with total sales of 296,110 vehicles, accounting for a 10.2 percent increase over 2006.

Mazda's highly acclaimed three-row CX-9 crossover SUV, Motor Trend magazine's "2008 Sport/Utility of the Year" and a North American Truck of the Year finalist, recorded December sales of 3,066 units, and 25,566 in just ten months. The two-row CX-7 crossover SUV recorded sales of 3,487 units for December, up 1.9 percent over last year, and 41,659 for the year, an increase of 86.6 percent. Along with 1,378 Tribute sales, Mazda's powerful crossover SUV lineup reported a total of 80,905 units sold in CY '07.

Reporting its best-ever December with 9,337 units sold (up 31.6 percent over last year), MAZDA3 also celebrated its best-ever sales year with 120,291 units sold, up 27.4 percent over CY '06. MAZDA5 also celebrated its best-ever December in the U.S. with 1,627 units sold, up 43.9 percent versus 2006.

"In spite of a challenging industry this year, Mazda excelled," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO of MNAO. "Talk of weak consumer confidence, credit concerns and rising fuel prices drove consumers toward smaller, more efficient vehicles and to crossover SUVs. Vehicles like the MAZDA3, CX-7 and CX-9 proved to be exactly what consumers wanted. Nevertheless, 2007 was a difficult year and we fully expect the industry will face even tougher conditions in 2008."

Rounding out North America, Mazda Canada, Inc. (MCI) recorded its best sales year ever with 86,659 vehicles sold, up 7.0 percent over CY '06. For the month of December, MCI sold 4,811 vehicles, accounting for a 4.0 percent increase over last year. For the third year in a row, MAZDA3 was the second best-selling car in Canada as it recorded 48,236 units sold in CY '07.

Not to be outdone, Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported record sales of 2,062 units for December, up 67.0 percent over December 2006. MMdM also set an annual sales record as it more than doubled sales from 2006, closing CY '07 with sales of 16,604, up 122 percent.

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 and Mexico 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.

Note: MPV & Protegé are discontinued vehicles