Against the backdrop of a European passenger car market heading for its sixth consecutive year of decline, sales of Mazda vehicles are now up 18% for the year to date. That was good for a market share of above 1.2 per cent during the first 11 months of 2013, a significant gain compared to 2012.

The company achieved healthy gains in all major markets, outperforming the industry by a wide margin virtually everywhere. Mazda attributed its sales successes to the ultra-efficient SKYACTIV Technology and KODO – Soul of Motion design used for the new Mazda6 and Mazda CX-5, which now been joined by the new Mazda3.

‘Just about every single country managed robust product-driven growth in the face of the prolonged industry difficulties across Europe,’ commented Mazda Motor Europe COO Philip Waring. ‘The message about our uncompromising cars is clearly getting across.’