Mazda July sales lifted by car demand

Tuesday, August 2nd 2005, 10:17 am

By: News On 6

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) _ Japanese automaker Mazda Motor Corp. on Tuesday said its U.S. vehicle sales grew 9.7 percent last month as a sharp upswing in car demand offset weak truck volume.

The company sold 24,820 vehicles in July, compared with 23,487 vehicles in the year-ago period. Demand for cars surged 26 percent to 19,081 units, while truck sales plunged 23.2 percent to 5,739, Mazda said.

Monthly results were lifted by strong sales of its popular Mazda3, which increased 16.5 percent to 7,814 vehicles, as well as a steep 60.5 percent rise in Mazda6 volume to 8,979 units.

In Mazda's truck segment, sales of MPV minivans slid 29.4 percent and Tribute sport-utility vehicles dropped 18.9 percent. Mazda Truck volume declined 49.4 percent to 514 vehicles, the company added.

Year to date, Mazda sold 159,808 vehicles, down 1.5 percent from 164,023 units the year before. Car sales advanced 4.6 percent to 120,447, while truck fell 16.4 percent to 39,361.