IRVINE, Calif., Jan. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) today reported December 2009 sales of 18,255, up 1.6 percent versus December 2008, and the strongest single month of the last four. Full-year 2009 sales were 207,767, down 21.3 percent. There were 28 selling days in December 2009 compared to 26 in 2008, and 310 selling days in both 2008 and 2009.

"Going in, we knew 2009 was going to be an extremely difficult year, and it lived up to its early billing all the way to the end," said Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO, MNAO. "We reduced our fleet sales all year long to focus on long-term brand strength, residual values and profitability. With December coming in higher than last year, optimism is strong for a brighter 2010."

The all-new 2010 MAZDA3 reported a sales increase in December of 1.5 percent with 7,981 units sold, and represented nearly half of all Mazdas sold in the U.S. during 2009. Mazda's crossover SUVs showed strong sales in December, with CX-7 reporting a sales increase of 120.5 percent for the month with 2,578 vehicles sold, while CX-9 reported sales of 2,637 units, an increase of 25.4 percent.

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) celebrated its best sales month ever. The company sold 3,115 vehicles, up 15 percent versus last December. December also marks the first month MMdM has reported sales of more than 3,000 units. For 2009, MMdM reported 18,914 total sales, accounting for a 14 percent decrease versus 2008. The all-new MAZDA3 and the CX-9 each recorded their best-ever sales months in December.

Mazda Canada Inc. (MCI) reported December sales of 4,261 units, down 5.5 percent compared to December 2008. Overall sales for 2008 were down 13.3 percent compared to overall 2008 sales, with 73,672 units sold.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in the United States in 2010, Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers. Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

                       Mazda North American Operations - December
                                          2009

                     Month-To-Date                      Year-To-Date
                     -------------                      ------------

           December December       %  % MTD  December December      %   % YTD
               2009     2008  Change    DSR      2009     2008 Change     DSR
           -------- --------  ------  -----  -------- -------- ------   -----

    Mazda3    7,981    7,864    1.5%   (5.8)%  96,466  109,957 (12.3)% (12.3)%
    Mazda5    1,622    2,884  (43.8)% (47.8)%  18,488   22,021 (16.0)% (16.0)%
    Mazda6    2,596    3,088  (15.9)% (21.9)%  34,866   52,590 (33.7)% (33.7)%
    MX-5
     Miata      464      299   55.2%   44.1%    7,917   10,977 (27.9)% (27.9)%
    RX-8        128      153  (16.3)% (22.3)%   2,217    3,368 (34.2)% (34.2)%
    CX-7      2,578    1,169  120.5%  104.8%   20,583   26,811 (23.2)% (23.2)%
    CX-9      2,637    2,103   25.4%   16.4%   21,132   26,100 (19.0)% (19.0)%
    Tribute     247      352  (29.8)% (34.8)%   5,525   10,806 (48.9)% (48.9)%
    B-Series
     Truck        2       53  (96.2)% (96.5)%     573    1,319 (56.6)% (56.6)%

    Total
     Vehicles
    ---------

    CARS     12,791   14,288  (10.5)% (16.9)% 159,954  198,913 (19.6)% (19.6)%
    TRUCKS    5,464    3,677   48.6%   38.0%   47,813   65,036 (26.5)% (26.5)%
              -----    -----   ----            ------   ------ ------

    TOTAL    18,255   17,965    1.6%  (5.6)%  207,767  263,949 (21.3)% (21.3)%
             ======   ======    ===   =====   =======  =======  =====   =====


    MEMO:
    -----

    IMPORT
     CAR     10,195   11,200   (9.0)%         125,088  146,323 (14.5)%
    IMPORT
     TRUCK    5,215    3,272   59.4%           41,715   52,911 (21.2)%
              -----    -----   ----            ------   ------ ------
    IMPORT
     TOTAL   15,410   14,472    6.5%          166,803  199,234 (16.3)%

    DOMESTIC
     CAR      2,596    3,088  (15.9)%          34,866   52,590 (33.7)%
    DOMESTIC
     TRUCK      249      405  (38.5)%           6,098   12,125 (49.7)%
                ---      ---  ------            -----   ------ ------
    DOMESTIC
     TOTALS   2,845    3,493  (18.6)%          40,964   64,715 (36.7)%
    -------   -----    -----  -----            ------   ------ ------
    Selling
     Days        28       26                      310      310
    -----

SOURCE Mazda North American Operations

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