November 2008 N America Mazda5 Sales Data

[remarquian]

[Here's the monthly sales report I've been doing, it just adds the historical monthly sales from 2007 and 2008]

North America Mazda released their November 2008 sales data and 1,499 Mazda5s were sold in November, up 220.3% from the previous November. The Mazda5 is the only Mazda model that saw an increase in sales compared the the same month last year.

That's 19,137 Mazda5s Year-To-Date.

For comparison Mazda sold 5,742 Mazda3s in November, 102,093 YTD.

Here's the data I could gather from 2008 and 2007.

                      North American Mazda5 Sales

       Jan  Feb  Mar  Apr  May  Jun  Jul  Aug   Sep   Oct  Nov  Dec
2008   1699 2021 2758 2011 2072 1416 1336 1324  1080  1921 1499		
2007   1323 1565 1657 1214 1449 1096  956  948   852   558  468 1627

 

[starlightmica]

Impressive. We here all know what a sweet little car the Mz5 is, but it's bucking the ~40% November sales drop in a very big way.

Why? is it because Mazda still offers financing?

 

[x10dude]

It's definitely good news but the 220% increase is a bit deceiving because Nov. 2007 sales were so bad.... only 468 vehicles for the entire month!

But that being said, the MZ5 is definitely defying the unprecedented downturn in the auto market. It's like auto sales have literally fallen off a cliff.... scary stuff.

 

[07MZ5SA]

Wonder why Toyota, Nissan and Honda still don't want to bring in their MZ5 counterparts.

 

[x10dude]

Wonder why Toyota, Nissan and Honda still don't want to bring in their MZ5 counterparts.

I think we need to keep the MZ5 numbers a bit in perspective. For the entire year, they'll probably barely break 20,000. Just as a comparison, the Camry was down 35% in Nov. but still managed to sell over 25,000 vehicles in one month. That's 5000 more than the MZ5 sell in the ENTIRE year. Even the Rav4 sold over 9000 units.

As much as we love Mazda... I don't think they will ever compete with the likes of Toyota or Honda... They almost went bankrupt when they tried.

So let's hope the MZ5 stays unique....

 

[starlightmica]

Another perspective: Toyota still managed to move over 6,000 Siennas last month, down from about 10K last year. Bringing over the Mz5-sized Wish (no sliders) would net Mz5-sized sales, probably not worth the hassle of federalization.

Honda was rumored to be looking into bringing over the Stream or JDM Odyssey, but $1.65/gallon gas and the lousy economy likely put an end to that.

Nissan's sales are hurting, and the smaller Cube is coming.

 

[x10dude]

The MZ5 is still very much a niche car...
Sales would probably have to double or even triple to make it mainstream

 

[remarquian]

While November is traditionally a bad car sales month, this November was really bad:

 

[coolmazda5]

While November is traditionally a bad car sales month, this November was really bad:

Yikes.

I agree with X10dude and the rest above, I also think the numbers for the Mazda5 look great due to the small sales in general. The Rondo, the closest competitor in the more "mainstream" category (this is what KIA wants anyway), did not do well either, so I think these MAVs are not really a game changer for Toyota or Honda, yet


Rondo US Sales

Nov 2007: 3570
Nov 2008: 1395
Decrease: 61%

Mazda5 US Sales

Nov 2007: 468
Nov 2008: 1499
Increase: 220.3%

 

[rweatherford]

I think you also have to remember that Mazda does not advertise these cars at ALL. If you are going to purchase a 5 you have to know what you are looking for before you get to the lot, or you have to just run into it and say "What is that?"

No one I have met knows what it is before I tell them.

That alone makes it hard to sell a car that people don't know exists, yet sales continue to grow.

 

[DoubleT]

Love at first sight!

I think you also have to remember that Mazda does not advertise these cars at ALL.

Your right about that! I didn't know they existed till someone told me an alternative to a mini van and a wagon. Showed me one at my work and I was sold right then! AND I had to get my 2008 MZ5 GS at a dealer far away from my area that had one left with the colour of my choice.

 

[mrbwa1]

You know I was one of the few people who knew about the 5 from the beginning. I follow the automotive world and read all the good early press. I remember seeing the 2006 at the car show and sitting in the middle row. At the time, I didn't know it reclined and if was horribly uncomfortable!

Fast forward a few years and we were in the market for a new car. The 5 came back on the radar and we were looking at an MPV, as the wife wanted a van. I hated the drive, so we though we'd give the 5 a try. Almost bout it on the spot 6 months before we were ready to buy! Instead we waited until October, and as the sales figures show from 2007, we were able to get an awesome deal.

Also, as far a numbers go, gross sales aren't everything. As mentioned, the 5 basically has no advertising budget. Looking at the sameness across the trim line, and the vast array of shared parts with the 3, I have to thing that even these niches sales might translate into better net profit than a high volume car. Mazda seems to have a small footprint, but that seems to be a blessing in today's economy.

Also, I wonder what the repeat buyer rate is for Mazda these days. I am far more impressed with the whole lineup than any other manufacturer.

 

[skylar2ups]

Doesn't Kia make something thats kind of like the Mazda5 without the sliding rear doors?

 

[07MZ5SA]

I've ridden in a Kia Caren years back and found its European/Asian personality highly attractive. After Mazda brought out 2nd gen Premacy with sliding doors, I find it convincing to get rid of old bulky minivan.

What I still don't understand is Mazda's idea behind 6 only seats for NA. Is it to differentiate from MZ8/CX-9 or simply non-adjacent 2nd-row seats make it more upscale?

 

[x10dude]

I actually had no idea the Mazda5 even existed until I started shopping and started looking at the Kia Rondo. I only stumbled upon the MZ5 because it is the closest competitor to the Rondo... ultimately the sliding doors sold me.

But others are right. No one I know has ever heard of this vehicle.

Even my friends who have ridden it in and seen my drive it day after day... still ask me "what is that car called again?"

With the economy the way it is, and the auto industry on the brink don't expect Mazda to suddenly start a advertising campaign.

 

[coolmazda5]

Doesn't Kia make something thats kind of like the Mazda5 without the sliding rear doors?

Rondo, very functional/versatile, but is fugly and its driving is so blah. Oh, and is still a KIA...

 

[coolmazda5]

You know I was one of the few people who knew about the 5 from the beginning

I knew about it back on 05 there were magazine ads and a couple of TV commercials, then nada until now...

These are the magazine ads I saw:
http://www.mazdas247.com/forum/showpost.php?p=3364640&postcount=1

 

[x10dude]

Rondo, very functional/versatile, but is fugly and its driving is so blah. Oh, and is still a KIA...

Sigh... haven't we been down this path already?

 

[mazdaspeedster3]

I just remember the first time I saw one, my first thought was, that must be the new MPV. Wasnt in the market for anything like that, was driving a 3 at the time and single. Now, even after owning a CX7 we love this 5. The captain chairs are solid and the car is actually fun to drive, gets good mileage and the wife LOVES it!

 

[skylar2ups]

Sigh... haven't we been down this path already?

Sorry I didn't know!!! (outie)