Mazda September 2012 Sales down 5.4%

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The CX-5 and 3 with SKYATIV are both doing very well. The 6 on the other hand needs the new 2014 model here like yesterday.

Wayne Gerdes - CleanMPG - Oct. 2, 2012

Mazda3 i Sport with the 2.0L and 6-speed stick incorporating SKYACTIV Tech -- $18,375 to start and a 27/39 mpgUS city/highway rating as equipped. Like the diesel Passat TDI and Elantra GT, this little beauty can bust its EPA wide open!

The Mazda3 is the brands bestselling vehicle in the US and accounted for over 46% of total sales last year. The reason why? It starts with a great handling lineup of sedan and hatches that are the best in the business. Adding to that “Best in Class” attribute, Mazda offers a number of drivetrain options for both the fuel miser and all out performance aficionados. Those two vastly different buyers receive both performance and fuel savings with the advent of what Mazda is calling “SKYACTIV”.

2012 Mazda 3 with the SKYACTIV Drivetrain

The Mazda3 i Touring and Grand Touring arrive with an all-new direct injected 2.0L I4 with a 12.0:1 Compression ratio code named “SKYACTIV-G”. Capable of outputting 155 HP and 148 lb-ft of torque (154 HP in PZEV trim), the engine when mated to either the all-new SKYACTIV-MT 6-speed manual transmission or optional all-new SKYACTIV-Drive 6-speed automatic transmission allows the 3 to achieve up to a 40 mpgUS highway rating from the sedan and up to 39 mpgUS highway from the hatch.

For more on “SKYACTIV” feel free to peruse the following previous write-ups on this breakthrough technology from the drivetrain to the chassis.

• Advanced High Strength Steels – Light as Aluminum and Cheap As Steel
• How Does Mazda’s 2.0L Gas Engine with a 13 to 14.0:1 CR Not Knock? SKYACTIV
• 2012 Mazda3 with SKYACTIV Tech Pricing Announced
• Mazda’s SKYACTIV Promises…
• Mazda’s next-Generation Products to Use SKYACTIV Tech
• 2012 Mazda3 Refresh to Incorporate SKYACTIV Tech for North America
• Mazda takes the Internal Combustion Engine Where It Has Never Gone Before

2012 Mazda 3 Ride and Handling

Before the recent rash of 11 and 12 models from Chevrolet, Ford, Honda and Hyundai were released, the 3 was hands down the best handling car in the C-Segment ranks. While competitors targeted the older 3, none really stood a chance due to their reluctance to incorporate an independently suspended rear end that has been a part of the Mazda 3’s DNA for quite some time.

Mazda has improved the refreshed 3’s driving dynamics even further with more precise and responsive handling using what they call “Toitsukan” or a smooth transition between acceleration, lateral and deceleration forces in response to the basic aspects of driving, turning and stopping. We already know the 3 delivers when it comes to violent handling maneuvers but now the 3 is supposed instill a better sense control in all aspects of the daily grind while offering driver and passengers a more comfortable ride.

The body of the 2012 Mazda3 provides greater rigidity than its predecessor by increasing the number of spot welds used to join the suspension crossmembers and through the use of stronger materials. This update applies only to models equipped with the SKYACTIV-G 2.0L or base 2.5L engines.

2012 Mazda 3 Safety

All Mazda3s will continue to feature a highly rigid safety body structure and Mazda's Triple-H construction which applies H-shaped reinforcements to the floor, side frames and roof to suppress cabin deformation and minimize the likelihood of bodily injury during an impact. For 2012 models, the B-pillar reinforcement has been extended by more than seven inches and more high tensile steel was added to further increase body rigidity and improve roof crush strength.

Standard safety features include dual front, side and side curtain airbags, anti-lock brakes (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD) with Brake Assist (BA), Dynamic Stability Control (DSC) with a Traction Control System (TCS), front and rear stabilizer bars, a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS), a "crushable" brake and accelerator pedal assembly and collapsible steering column, three-point safety belts for all seating positions, front seatbelt pretensioners with force limiters as well as Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children (LATCH)…

Mazda September Sales Results

Mazda reported September U.S. sales of 24,135 vehicles, representing a decrease of 5.4 percent versus last year. Year-to-date sales through September are up 9.5 percent versus last year, with 209,482 vehicles sold.

The Mazda3 achieves its best September ever with 14,031 sales, solidifying a 57.1 percent increase when compared to September of 2011.

In the U.S., Mazda's total SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY vehicle sales for September (comprised of CX-5 and certain models of Mazda3) account for 67.4 percent of the company's total sales for the month.

Mazda3, with SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, accounted for 84.0 percent of all Mazda3 sales in September!

The Mazda CX-5 continues to sell well posting sales of 4,468 vehicles last month. Unfortunately due to high demand, dealership stock has been limited resulting in a loss of potential sales. This is one of the only CUVs we have driven to date I could recommend as a daily driver given the incredible fuel economy it provided during our review earlier this spring.

CleanMPG Reviews the 2013 Mazda CX-5

Mazda Motor de Mexico (MMdM) reported September sales of 1,874 vehicles, down 30.0 percent versus September of last year.

Mazda Sept 2012 Highlights and Overall Sales

Model	Sept-12	Sept-11	Sept-DSR % change	Sept-12 YTD	Sept-11 YTD	YTD-DSR % change
2	756	956	-20.9%	12,729	10,855	+16.8%
3	14,031	8,929	+57.1%	93,705	79,185	+17.8%
CX-5	4,468	--	NA	29,372	--	NA
Mazda Totals	24,135	25,521	-5.4%	209,482	191,315	+9.0%

The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 25 days for both Sept 2012 and Sept 2011. Year-to-date,
the DSR is calculated with 230 days for all of 2012 and 229 for all of 2011. All percentages reflect DSR.

Top 10 - Sept 2012 US Automobile Sales Leaders

Sales Rank	Make	Model	Sept-12	Sept-11	Sept-DSR % change	Sept-12 YTD	Sept-11 YTD	YTD-DSR % change
1	Ford	F-Series	55,077	54,410	+1.2%	463,733	416,388	+10.9%
2	Chevrolet	Silverado	36,425	43,698	-16.6%	298,200	296,436	+.2%
3	Toyota	Camry	34,252	24,851	+37.8%	314,788	229,521	+36.6%
4	Honda	Accord	29,182	18,639	+56.6%	247,847	181,014	+36.3%
5	RAM	P/U	25,973	24,522	+5.9%	213,593	177,973	+19.5%
6	Chevrolet	Cruze	25,787	18,097	+42.5%	180,600	187,524	-4.1%
7	Nissan	Altima	24,448	24,356	+0.4%	234,040	200,554	+16.2%
8	Ford	Escape	23,148	20,225	+ 14.5%	200,075	187,850	+6.0%
9	Toyota	Corolla	23,026	16,147	+42.6%	222,703	186,891	+18.6%
10	Honda	CR-V	22,268	19,604	+13.6%	213,381	161,035	+31.9%

The daily selling rate (DSR) is calculated with 25 days for both Sept 2012 and Sept 2011. Year-to-date,
the DSR is calculated with 230 days for all of 2012 and 229 for all of 2011. All percentages reflect DSR.

B-Segment Sales Rank

1. Nissan Versa - 8,016
2. Chevrolet Sonic - 7,525
3. Honda Fit - 4,660
4. Hyundai Accent - 4,313
5. Fiat 500 - 4,176
6. Ford Fiesta - 3,923
7. Kia Rio - 3,171
8. Toyota Yaris - 1,118
9. Mazda2 - 756

C-Segment Sales Rank

1. Chevrolet Cruze - 25,787
2. Toyota Corolla - 23,026
3. Honda Civic - 21,546
4. Ford Focus - 19,736
5. Hyundai Elantra - 18,305
6. VW Jetta - 14,750
7. Mazda3 - 14,031
8. Nissan Sentra - 9,345
9. Kia Forte - 6,912
10. Dodge Dart - 5,235

D-Segment Sales Rank

1. Toyota Camry - 34,252
2. Honda Accord - 29,182
3. Nissan Altima - 24,448
4. Hyundai Sonata - 17,332
5. Kia Optima - 14,304
6. Ford Fusion - 12,300
7. Chevrolet Malibu - 11,188
8. Chrysler 200 - 9,881
9. VW Passat - 9,500

Segment ranking items of note: In the B-Segment, the Accent and Fit swapped positions, and the Fiat 500 outsold the Fiesta for the first time.

The C-Segment ranks saw the Cruze maintain the 1st spot for the second month in a row and the Civic swapped with Corolla.

The D-Segment ranks saw the Fusion fall behind the Sonata and Optima with the all-new Malibu trailing off quickly.

Automobile Manufacturer's US Sales Rank – Sept 2012 vs. Sept 2011 Comparison and Total Sales

1. GM Sept Sales up 1.5% with 210,245 vehicles sold.
   
2. Ford Sept Sales Flat with 174,976 vehicles sold.
   
3. Toyota Sept Sales up 41.5% with 171,910 vehicles sold.
   
4. Chrysler Sept Sales up 11.5% with 142,041 vehicles sold.
   
5. Honda Sept Sales up 30.9% with 117,211 vehicles sold.
   
6. Nissan Sept Sales down 1.1% with 91,907 vehicles sold.
   
7. Hyundai Sept Sales up 15.3% with 60,025 vehicles sold.
   
8. Kia Sept Sales up 35.1% with 48,105 vehicles sold.
   
9. VW Sept Sales up 34.4% with 36,339 vehicles sold.
   
10. Subaru Sept Sales up 32.2% with 27,683 vehicles sold.
    
11. BMW Sept Sales up 3.5% with 26,660 vehicles sold.
    
12. MB Sept Sales up 8.7% with 25,980 vehicles sold.
    
13. Mazda Sept Sales down 5.4% with 24,135 vehicles sold.
    
14. Audi Sept Sales up 26.5% with 12,302 vehicles sold.

Through the first nine months of 2012, the Seasonally Adjusted Annual Rate (SAAR) is running at approximately 14.9 million.