Earlier this week, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) announced that it had a 2 percent drop in its May 2007 sales as compared to its sales the same period last year.

However, despite such decline in the Mazda North American Operations (MNAO), Mazda Canada, Incorporated announced the company’s best-ever May sales that amounted to 10,312 representing a 20 percent increase of over the same period last year; Mazda de Mexico also had its best-ever month of May with sales of 1,503, which is a whopping 277 percent increase; and Mazda North America reached the sales of 38,603 representing an increase of 5.9 percent.

Jim O’Sullivan, president and CEO of MNAO, said that consumers are cautious about the things they purchase due to the continued uncertainties in housing, fuel prices and interest rates. He further said that these quirky times have more of an effect on smaller companies like Mazda than they might have for larger companies, as depicted on Mazda’s sales gains and losses for this year.

The MAZDA3 is leading the volume of the company. Its sales amount to 11,316 off three-percent from last year. Even with minimal incentive support, the vehicle remains a sales success for the company in its fourth year of production. As of May 2007, MAZDA3 sales are up 20.8-percent.

Meanwhile, the MX-5 Miata announced sales of 1,959, which is up 7.1 percent year-over-year. Since 2001, these sales are so far registered as the best May. The MX-5 Miata is available as both a soft-top and Power Retractable Hard Top model. With more than 850,000 sold since 1989, the vehicle is the best-selling two-seat roadster of all time.

About Mazda North American Operations

Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, California. Its task is to supervise the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico through almost 900 dealers.

Canada operations are managed by Mazda Canada, Incorporated. It is located in Ontario, Canada. Meanwhile, Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City manages operations in Mexico.

About Mazda Motor Corporation

A Japanese auto maker that is based in Hiroshima, Japan, Mazda Motor Corporation expected to build 1.25 million vehicles annually as of 2006. The sales will be evenly divided among Japan, Europe, North and Latin America.

Maker of quality Mazda fuel injector, Mazda is a member of the Ford Motor Company.

About The Name Mazda

The name Mazda is supposedly derived from Ahura Mazda, the transcendental God of Zoroastrianism. Moreover, it is also said that Mazda coincides with the anglicized pronunciation of the founder’s name, Jujiro Matsuda, who was interested in spirituality. According to this belief, he chose to rename it in honor of both his family and the Zoroastrians.

In the Avestan language, “Wisdom” is the corresponding meaning of Mazda. In Japanese, however, the company has always been pronounced and spelled as “Matsuda”. In effect, this led many to believe that Mazda is really just a poorly anglicized version of the name of the founder.



By: Kraig Johanssen

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To prove its commitment to the environment, Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) announces its newest pride which comes in the form of the Mazda Tribute Hybrid-Electric Vehicle (HEV). The vehicle wowed the crowd in the recently held 2007 North American International Auto Show.

The Mazda Tribute is scheduled to make its debut in the middle part of 2007 as a 2008 model. As opposed to other hybrids, the Mazda Tribute HEV is deemed to be a “full” hybrid which can run on 100 percent electric power up to approximately 25 mph, maximizing in-city fuel economy and making it one of the least-polluting vehicles ever sold. The hybrid has been engineered with the environment concerns and the Zoom-Zoom performance and feel in mind. Aside from the intention to satisfy the needs of Mazda enthusiasts, the automaker also focused on minimizing air pollution by reducing greenhouse gases emissions.

“With virtually all new Mazda vehicles sold in the U.S. earning either Low Emission Vehicle (LEV) or Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) status, protecting the global environment is a long-standing concern of ours,” said Robert Davis who works as the senior vice president of the MNAO Quality, Research and Development team. “The Tribute HEV is the next step towards strengthening Mazda’s environmental efforts.”

The 2008 version of the vehicle bears the go green trend of the automotive realm. In fact, it is greener than other hybrids available in the market these days. With a hydrogen-powered version of the RX-8 and a hydrogen-powered hybrid version of the MAZDA5 undergoing broad testing in Japan, the Mazda Tribute HEV is the latest environmental-friendly vehicle to join the automaker’s lineup.

The Mazda Tribute delivers plenty of power without compromising California’s strict Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emissions Vehicle (AT-PZEV) requirements. As a fact, the vehicle achieved the Super Ultra Low Emissions Vehicle II (SULEVII) standards plus zero evaporative emissions standards. So far, they are the strictest emission regulations a gasoline-fueled automobile can meet.

The HEV technology in the Mazda Tribute boasts sophisticated Mazda auto parts recycled. These parts are products of extensive studies and testing initiated by Mazda pool of experts. Some of the cutting-edge features of the vehicle include the special 2.3-liter four-cylinder gasoline engine that features Atkinson-cycle combustion for enhanced efficiency and power. It generates 133 horsepower at 6,000 rpm.

The 2008 Mazda Tribute is also equipped with a 70-kWatt electric traction motor that delivers an extra boost to the drive wheels when maximum acceleration is required. Also, a 330-volt nickel-metal-hydride battery pack which is located at the rear load floor supplies electrical energy. The generator-motor starts the engine, recharges the batteries and aids in regulating propulsion channels in the transaxle. The special electronically controlled, continuously variable transmission (eCVT), on the one hand, connects internal combustion and electric power sources to run the vehicle. Finally, there is the electronic vehicle system controller that manages drive assist, charging and engine-starting functions. In times of coasting, the feature shuts the engine to save fuel. Another essential function of the feature is the conversion of traction motor into a generator during braking. This is done to help recharge the batteries.

Mazda will release the Tribute’s pricing, distribution, sales volume and other information before its launch date.



By: Correy Putton

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