Mazda 5 in the news in a round about way...

[Jetmech]

I guess some the big automakers are waking up...

http://www.wheels.ca/Article%20Category/article/782619

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

That will be interesting... Hopefully they dont just steal mazda5 business.

 

[x10dude]

I think the last quote is telling...
"Unless Americans embrace them, it will be a difficult thing (segment) to develop,"

I still believe that most companies are still gunshy about bringing a mini-minivan model over to N.A. There has been alot of talk but I believe Ford is really the ony one to announce concrete plans.

And it isn't like the Mazda5 or Rondo are pulling in huge sales numbers. They are still sort of niche vehicles.

 

[Outlander]

partially, the reason why microvan is not very popular in US - Mazda is doing very poor job in avdertisment of 5 and Rondo is KIA.
Once it will be Honda or Toyota presenting the same concept -- I believe the opinion will change.
P.S.
What do you think Mazda2 would have the same success compare to Honda Fit success?
None of them in particular american type of car.

 

[mysleeper6]

I'm sure that "stealing" Mazda 5 sales is, in part, their intent. I'm just still amazed at how poor of a job the Big 3 have done at anticipating consumer wants. I know that cars have a long lead-time from concept to product, but this is the same problem that plagued them following the oil crisis of '73 that led to the imports gaining meaningful market share. You would think that in 35 years they would have become more flexible and responsive.

 

[DKaz]

I had a feeling that for the past couple of years, a lot of Mazda 5 sales were word of mouth. I was at Tim Horton's on Saturday with a lady asking me what car I had and I replied a Mazda 5. Mazda is stepping up their advertising efforts this year on the 5 at least in Canada, I've seen the commercial quite a few times already.

We just have to transform the traditional train of thought that bigger is better and into "small can be big". The new Chevy Traverse is a disgusting monster (though oddly I don't mind its Buick sibling). If I really needed to carry 6 passengers and cargo for camping for example I'll buy a roof rack. If I really needed to carry 4x8 plywood home, I'll rent a van or truck.

I for one would fully welcome competition into the microvan segment. It'll force Mazda to make their great product even better. I don't think the Mazda 5 has to worry about lost sales, I think the minivan and SUV has to worry.

 

[x10dude]

partially, the reason why microvan is not very popular in US - Mazda is doing very poor job in avdertisment of 5 and Rondo is KIA.

I wouldn't sell Kia short anymore. They're actually one of the few car companies that have weathered the worldwide car recession pretty well. In fact they've (Kia/Hyundai) already passed Honda and Ford in sales to be the 4th largest in the world.

And they've been getting better and better reviews in the press.
So alot of the old jokes about Kia probably no longer apply.

> "You would think that in 35 years they would have become more flexible and responsive. "
Remember, the same was thought of Honda and Toyota 40 years ago when they first imported their cheap and small vehicles to the US. The same minds that dismissed Honda and Toyota are probably doing the same with Kia/Hyndai today.

 

[mysleeper6]

My point exactly...the Big 3 seem to operate on the premise that they are entitled to a certain sales volume regardless of what they churn out. They dismissed the imports 35 years ago, and to a large extent I believe they still do. To paraphrase the deceased Oldsmobile's ad, "It's not your father's economy."

GM has always confounded me with their marketing approach: build the same car for several lines, and distinguish them by trim level. Cadillac, Buick, Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, and Pontiac each had their own target market, but the differences became so blurred as to be impossible to distinguish. They ultimately came to compete with themselves (somewhat unsuccessfully). Shedding Olds and Pontiac should have been done long ago. I won't even get into Saturn and Geo (a brand consisting completely of rebadged vehicles).

 

[x10dude]

My point exactly...the Big 3 seem to operate on the premise that they are entitled to a certain sales volume regardless of what they churn out. They dismissed the imports 35 years ago, and to a large extent I believe they still do. To paraphrase the deceased Oldsmobile's ad, "It's not your father's economy.".

I don't think it is just the Big 3 that have that mindset...
I'm not saying Kia/Hyundai will become the next Toyota but too many people are dismissing them as a non-factor in the auto industry.

 

[KBrian]

Those of us who have followed the N.A. auto market since the entry of Hyundai in the 80's may have our opinions coloured by the (horrible) Pony, among other forgettable disasters. Kia, however, has entered the market with quality vehicles ready to compete with everyone. They actually produce what people want to buy.

If you have driven Hyundai lately, you will know they have nothing to apologise for. They only have to overcome the long memories of the baby boomers. By offering products we want to buy, the Koreans will come to dominate the N.A. market in the same way the Japanese have since the 90's.

Bring on the competition. Cars/companies will be forced to improve or die.