DETROIT -- Mazda Motor Corp. sees its U.S. sales climbing as much as 10 percent this year, buoyed by the launch of the CX-5 small crossover, as the company aims to lift its local market share to 2.5 percent in the next two years.
Jim O'Sullivan, CEO of Mazda North American Operations, said he expects sales to rise between 5 and 10 percent this year.
"We'll be growing at least as much as the industry, maybe even more," O'Sullivan said today on the sidelines of the Detroit auto show. He said he sees the total U.S. market expanding between 5 and 10 percent this year to at least 13.5 million units.
"There's more upside to the market this year than downside," he said.
Mazda targets U.S. sales of 400,000 units by 2014 to win a 2.5 percent market share in a 14-million unit industry. The company ended 2011 with sales up 9 percent to 250,426 units, lagging the market's 10 percent gain. Market share was unchanged last year at 2.0 percent.
The new CX-5 launches in March with deliveries to dealers beginning in late February, O'Sullivan said.
