Mazda raises full-year forecasts after record first half

Mazda Motor Corporation outperformed its own high expectations in the first half of the 2015-16 fiscal year and has now raised its full-year forecasts across the board. On the strength of record vehicle sales of its outstanding new products, the Japanese carmaker increased revenue by 17% year-on-year between April and September to ¥1.70 trillion (€12.6 billion*), at the same time raising its operating profit by 21% to ¥126 billion (€933 million). Net income came in at ¥88.3 billion (€654 million). Mazda thus remains on target to post another record operating profit for the year ending in March 2016, its third consecutive.

The company set a new first-half record for worldwide car sales at 764,000 units, up 14% while achieving growth in virtually every region globally. Sales were distributed across its vehicle line-up, as three all-new models – the Mazda2, Mazda CX-3 and Mazda MX-5 – made their debuts in the first half to strong demand. Other members of the current model generation like the Mazda6 and Mazda CX-5, with their award-winning KODO designs and unconventional SKYACTIV technology, continue to sell robustly.

Europe made a substantial contribution with a 21% increase in vehicle turnover to 110,000 units** and is expected to continue prospering through the second half. Elsewhere, Japan’s performance was exceptional, too, with sales up 33%. China, meanwhile, posted year-on-year growth of 16%, the ASEAN region 22% and Australia 17%.

Mazda has adjusted if full-year forecasts accordingly. It now anticipates unit sales of 1,515,000, up 25,000 from the previous forecast, and a ¥230 billion (€1.7 billion) operating profit, up 9.5%. That would better last year’s all-time record of ¥203 billion. Mazda plans to double its annual dividend to ¥30.

* Source: Mazda Motor Corporation’s “Consolidated Financial Results for the First Half of the Fiscal Year Ending March 31, 2016”. Euro figures were calculated at €1 = ¥135.

** EU & EFTA, incl. Turkey