Mazda Motor said it sold a record 775,000 vehicles in the first half of its 2016-17 fiscal year, slightly more than the previous record set last year.
Europe contributed 123,000 units, up 12% year-on-year thanks above all to robust sales of the Mazda CX-3, a small SUV, and Mazda MX-5 roadster.
The company also reported solid growth in China (+22% to 133,000), the ASEAN region (+18% to 54,000) and Australia (+4% to 60,000).
First-half revenue of ¥1.55 trillion ($1.45bn) was down in yen terms because of the strengthening Japanese currency but up in both euros and dollars. Mazda reported an ¥88.3bn ($830m) operating profit between 1 April and 30 September and net income of ¥56.1bn ($527m).
The carmaker continues to make steady progress with new models and technology, having launched two new SUVs: the Mazda CX-4 in China and the Mazda CX-9 in North America, Australia and elsewhere.
Model updates now being rolled out in Europe include the 2017 Mazda6 and 2017 Mazda3, both of which feature the innovative new SKYACTIV-VEHICLE DYNAMICS control technology.
Production of the all-new Mazda MX-5 RF, the power retractable hardtop version of the legendary roadster, began in October, and the all-new generation of the Mazda CX-5, currently the brand’s top-selling model in Europe, will be unveiled later this month at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show.
Mazda is also developing zero-emission vehicles as well as autonomous driving systems, taking a human-oriented development approach to find the solutions best suited to the brand’s well-known driver focus.
The carmaker reaffirmed its global sales target of 1.55 million vehicles for the fiscal year ending on 31 March 2017. It revised other full-year forecasts to reflect the stronger yen, noting that negative currency effects would be at least partially offset by cost and efficiency improvements.
Mazda now projects revenue of ¥3.15 trillion ($30.19bn), expecting an operating profit of ¥150bn ($1.43bn)and net income of ¥100bn ($956m). The company’s annual dividend remains unchanged at ¥35 per share.
