Mazda Demio / Mazda 2 Hits 100.000 Landmark in 8 months

Mazda2 Production

Production of the Mazda2 has surpassed the 100,000 mark in just eight months

By Michael Gauthier
February 14, 2008 7:30 PM
Filed Under: Industry, Japanese, Mazda

Mazda has a hit on its hands, in Japan production of the Mazda2 (Demio) has surpassed the 100,000 mark in just eight months. Almost as fast as production has climbed, awards for the new car have been pouring in. The Mazda2 has so far gained 31 awards globally, including car of the year awards in Japan and New Zealand.

Sales in Europe have been especially strong, allowing Mazda to post their highest sales numbers on the continent since 1991. The company points out that the car weighs 100 kilograms less than its predecessor allowing for better fuel economy, while being safe enough to receive a five star rating from Euro NCAP.

Source: Mazda

Press Release (Click to expand)

Mazda Produces 100,000th All-New Demio in Japan

Highly acclaimed Demio posts strong global sales results
Mazda Motor Corporation announced that production of the all-new Mazda Demio (known overseas as the all-new Mazda2) in Japan reached 100,000 units at the end of January 2008. This milestone was achieved only eight months after domestic production commenced at the end of May 2007.
The all-new Demio was developed to inject a breath of fresh air into the global compact car segment. The vehicle concept was “a personal smart commuter” and development emphasized emerging modern values such as increased concern for environmental and safety issues, and a greater focus on design. The all-new Demio has won eight awards in Japan, including the 2008 RJC Car of the Year. Overseas, the all-new Mazda2 has been selected for 23 awards, including the New Zealand Car of the Year and second place in the 2008 European Car of the Year (as the highest ranked Japanese car). As demonstrated by 31 global awards earned in the seven months since its launch in July 2007, Mazda’s latest compact car already enjoys an excellent reputation among media and customers around the world.
The all-new Demio is around 100 kilograms lighter than the previous model and boasts superb body rigidity through the use of ultra-high tensile steel. These advances help it to achieve top class fuel economy, dynamic driving performance and superior safety protection—all at the same time. In December 2007, the all-new Mazda2 was awarded five stars for adult occupant protection in the European New Car Assessment Program (NCAP)* crash testing; validation that its collision safety performance is world class.
Against this background, the all-new Demio/Mazda2 is posting strong sales in global markets. In Japan, sales reached 34,389 units in the first six months, which represents a substantial portion of Mazda’s expanding market share in the challenging Japanese market. Mazda’s 2007 calendar year sales in Europe recorded 311,247 units, its highest volume since 1991. Sales of the all-new Mazda2 in Europe made a significant contribution to this achievement, reaching 12,591 units in just four months.
To commemorate the RJC Car of the Year win, Mazda launched the Demio ‘Chiara’ special edition model with a custom body color and exclusive seat covers that give the interior a stylish and individual appearance. As of the end of January 2008, Mazda had received 578 orders for the Demio ‘Chiara’ in its first month of sales.