Mazda steps up recruitment drive in Europe

The company said it appointed 25 new dealers to its European network in the first quarter and is set to add another 75 by year-end.

The appointees will maintain the network size at 2,100, plugging key gaps and helping to sell a target 250,000 cars this year.

European sales

Mazda sales in Europe are 86,119 in the year to May, down 22 per cent in a total European market down 12.8 per cent.

According to the Franchising Open Points Survey carried out by Motor Trader in April, Mazda had 151 dealers in the UK and nine open points in Camberley, Reading, Northolt/West London, Lichfield, Croydon, North Bristol, Burnley, Bridgend and Medway towns/Gillingham.

Recent developments in the network include Perrys taking on the Portsmouth slot left vacant by the closure of Solent Motor Company last year.

Vertu move

And Vertu announced last month it was to represent the brand in Cheltenham and Redditch, buying the dealerships from the administrators in at Brooklyn Motors.

Phil Waring, chief operating officer Mazda Motor Europe, said new product such as the Mazda2 and the re-launched Mazda3 are attracting dealers.

Mazda also has new financing arrangements with Santander, which is making it easier to finance stock, the company said.

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