Mazda to increase CX-5 output; June sales up 3%
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Mazda's U.S. dealers had a 27-day supply of the CX-5 at the end of June, compared with an 85-day supply of all Mazda vehicles. |
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LOS ANGELES — Mazda will boost production of its newCX-5 compact crossover by 20 percent to keep up with demand.
Mazda said today it will expand CX-5 production capacity in Japan to 240,000 units annually, from 200,000 units. Mazda also raised its global sales target for the CX-5 from 160,000 units to 190,000 units during the fiscal year ending March 31, 2013.
Mazda says global demand for the CX-5 has exceeded expectations. Japanese consumers have ordered about 24,000 -- more than double the company's full-year CX-5 domestic sales target -- since the car went on sale there in February.
Extra CX-5 production should be welcomed by Mazda's U.S. dealers grappling with tight supplies. Mazda had a 27-day supply of the CX-5 at the end of June, compared with an 85-day supply of all Mazda vehicles.
Mazda has sold 16,031 CX-5s in the United States through June. Sales here began in late February.
The CX-5 is Mazda's newest vehicle and the first to get its direct-injection 2.0-liter gasoline engine, new transmissions and lightweight chassis and frame technologies, which the company refers to collectively as Skyactiv.
Mazda also said today it would double production of Skyactiv engines in Hiroshima, Japan.
Mazda sold 19,911vehicles in June, up 3 percent from last year. CX-5 sales totaled 4,55l last month, its best month since sales began in late February.
The results offset declines in sales for most of Mazda's other vehicles. The Mazda3 and the MX-5 Miata were the only other nameplates with year-over-year sales increases in June.
Mazda's U.S. sales totaled 143,797 in the first six months of 2012, up 16 percent from last year.
You can reach Ryan Beene at rbeene@crain.com. -- Follow Ryan on 
