Mazda aims to sell 220,000 vehicles in China in 2010
Mazda Motor Corp. says it is adding new dealerships and new models in a bid to sell 220,000 vehicles in China this year, up from 182,402 in 2009.
The company aims to have 300 franchised dealerships, up from 273 in June and 254 at the start of the year.
Mazda also plans to introduce the Mazda8 MPV into China later this year. The Japanese automaker already sells the Mazda6 mid-sized sedan and its upgraded version, the Mazda6 Ruiyi, through its sales partnership with China FAW Group Co.
Mazda sells the Mazda2 and Mazda3 compact cars through its sales venture with Changan Automobile Co.
Despite the additional dealerships, Mazda has not kept up with industry sales. In the first six months, Mazda sales rose 36 percent to 106,577 cars, less than the industry's 48 percent growth.
But Mazda's sales are picking up. In June, it sold 19,926 vehicles in China, a surge of 42 percent year-on-year.