Mazda Launches New Sales Operation in South Africa

Mazda begins selling its vehicles in South Africa through a new national sales company that is taking over the operation from Ford.

In a statement issued in Japan, Mazda says Mazda Southern Africa (MSA) now is handling all business related to the sale of its vehicles.

Mazda Senior Managing Executive Officer Yuji Nakamine says MSA independently will plan and implement branding and sales strategies aiming to increase sales and further strengthen the brand in the South African market.

“Mazda is promoting brand value management in all markets, and the start of operations at MSA offers an excellent opportunity to implement these initiatives in South Africa as well,” he says.

Mazda entered South Africa in 1963 and now it is the automaker’s highest-volume market on the African continent, with sales of 6,309 units last year.

Johannesburg-based MSA, headed by David Hughes, Mazda Australia’s former Western Australian state manager, plans to launch the all-new Mazda3 and all-new Mazda6 and extend the Mazda CX-5 model range in South Africa this month.

The South African lineup also includes the BT-50, Mazda2, Mazda5 and Mazda MX-5.