Mazda to offer unlimited mileage warranty in Canada

Mazda Motor Corp. will offer an unlimited mileage warranty to consumers who buy or lease a vehicle in Canada beginning with the 2015 model year, the automaker said today.

Regardless of the distance driven, the basic warranty covers all defective parts for three years, powertrain components for five years, body sheet metal perforation for seven years and roadside assistance for three years.

Mazda said the only category that will still be limited to 128,000 kilometers, or 79,535 miles, is an eight-year emissions defect warranty.

"Mazda's focus is on long-term customer satisfaction," Kory Koreeda, president of Mazda Canada Inc., said in a statement. "By offering our customers an unlimited mileage warranty, we believe it will enhance their ownership experience by alleviating concerns such as kilometer limitations, repair costs and resale value."

Through October this year, Mazda’s sales in Canada have risen 3 percent to 62,995 in an overall market that has advanced 6 percent. The company’s share of the Canadian light-vehicle market has slipped from 5.2 percent in 2008 to 4 percent this year.

Mazda’s unlimited mileage warranty is a “continuing trend in the industry,” said Dennis DesRosiers, an analyst at DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. “The companies can only extend these warranties if there is an expectation that they will not be used.”

Offering an unlimited mileage warranty also is an effective marketing tactic, DesRosiers said.

David Klan, Mazda’s senior director of sales, marketing and regional operations, said in the statement: “Driving enjoyment is essential to Mazda; it's in our DNA, and every car we make. So offering a different kind of warranty that doesn't restrict customers from enjoying their vehicle and driving as much, or as far, as they want is an ideal fit."