The sales were higher than the target of 220,000 set by the Japanese automaker for its China operations in early 2010.

Mazda currently builds the Mazda2 and Mazda3 compact cars at the Nanjing plant of Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co., a three -way joint venture between Changan Automobile Co., Ford Motor Co. and Mazda.

The Japanese brand also produces the Mazda6 midsized sedan in addition to an upgraded version, the Mazda6 Ruiyi, at the plant of China FAW Group Corp. in Changchun.

At present, the Mazda2 and Mazda3 are sold by a sales company jointly set up by Mazda and Changan, while the Mazda6 and Mazda6 Ruiyi are sold by a sales company established by Mazda and FAW.

The two sales companies combined have 312 franchised dealerships in China.

Mazda is seeking to break away from Changan Ford Mazda in order to form a separate joint venture with Changan. It also wants to establish a joint venture with FAW to expand its output in China.