Mazda Australia doubles profits on SUV surge

According to The Australian Financial Review today, Mazda Australian profits more than doubled to $72.3 million in its latest financial year, and are continuing to accelerate, with the Japanese brand strengthening its hold as the No.2 player across the entire market.
Mazda Australia managing director Martin Benders says a combination of highly appealing models across the range, many of which had updates through the year, plus an enthusiastic network of 128 dealers have helped the brand's market share in Australia reach 10 per cent, the highest for any country in which Mazda operates.
The momentum is speeding up further. "Our products are hitting the spot," he told Fairfax Media.
Financial accounts lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission show that Mazda Australia made a net profit after tax of $72.3 million for the 12 months ended March 31, 2015, up from $34.7 million a year earlier. Sales revenue was up 4.99 per cent to $2.55 billion. Profit before tax was $104 million, in contrast to $49.97 million the year before.
The strong sales and profits at Mazda Australia have continued in the past few months following the end of the local arm's financial year. "We're about 17 per cent ahead," he says of the results for the six months to September 30, 2015.
Mazda has always run an importer-only business model in Australia.
Official VFACTS figures released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries last week showed Mazda had sold a record 10,864 new vehicles in September. On a year-to-date basis, Mazda sales are up 11.7 per cent with total new vehicle sales at 85,977 for the nine months of calendar 2015.
Mazda had four of its models in the top 20 selling new vehicles in Australia. The No.2-selling new car in Australia in September was the Mazda3, while the Mazda CX-5 Sports Utility Vehicle was at No.7. Mazda's strong surge has taken it to a clear No.2 in the market this year. It was sitting at No.4 this time a year ago.

Ref: http://www.afr.com/business/transport/automobile/mazda-australia-doubles-profits-on-suv-surge-20151012-gk6voa

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​http://www.j-abc.com/jp-blog/-suv
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