Mazda has announced 9,356 vehicle sales in March compared to 9,100 last year, which has given it an all-time record quarterly sales figure of 14,591 units sold.

These sales give Mazda a UK market share of more than 2% this year. Mazda says the key to its success it the Mazda3. A total of 3,676 Mazda3s were sold compared with 2,056 in March 2004, an increase of 79%. The Mazda6 reached 2,963 sales in the UK compared to 2,632 last year.

Sales director Rob Lindley said: "It has been phenomenal for us, the best ever sales we have seen for a single model in any month. Our 0% finance offers and very strong availability was the key to the car's success in March."

Mazda Motor Europe finished out the outstanding fiscal year in March with a projected volume of 272,608 units and sales, up 9% versus the last final year, the best result in more than a decade. Mazda sold a total of 48,500 cars in the UK last year.

March 2005 UK sales results

Model		March 04		March 05
Mazda2		990		758
Mazda3		2,056		3,676
Mazda6		2,632		2,963
MPV		100		34
Premacy		310		0
MX-5		1,186		855
RX-8		1,482		895
Tribute		182		0
Total cars		8,946		9,181
B Series		154		175
Total incl. B Series		9,100		9,356