Mazda Launching New Sales Operation in South Africa
Ford Southern Africa continued distributing Mazda vehicles in South Africa despite the end of the companies’ partnership three years ago. Mazda South Africa will take over all Mazda-related operations starting in July 2014.
Mazda will set up a new national sales company in South Africa after reaching an agreement to end its current partnership with Ford.
Mazda South Africa will begin operations in July 2014. Japanese parent Mazda says the move will allow it to independently control the import and sale of Mazda vehicles as well as the provision of customer services.
“Mazda aims to expand its business and further strengthen the Mazda brand in South Africa,” the auto maker says in a statement.
The new company is 100% owned by Mazda and is being launched with an initial investment of R20 million ($1.9 million).
Mazda vehicles are distributed in South Africa by Ford Southern Africa despite the end of the companies’ partnership three years ago.
Mazda South Africa will take over all Mazda-related operations and is hiring people and recruiting dealership outlets. Ford Southern Africa will continue selling and servicing Mazda products during the transition period.
Production of Mazda’s BT-50 pickup truck will continue at Ford's Silverton Assembly Plant in South Africa.
Mazda Senior Managing Executive Officer Yuji Nakamine says South Africa is the biggest automotive market on the African continent, with 600,000 vehicles sold annually.
“The establishment of a national sales company and introduction of more next-generation products will give the Mazda brand a much greater presence and contribute to the overall development of the South African market,” he says in a statement.
South Africa is Mazda's highest-volume market on the African continent. When operations begin next year, it will sell the all-new Mazda6 in addition to Mazda3, Mazda6, CX-5, BT-50, Mazda2, Mazda5 and MX-5.
Mazda says the all-new Mazda3, which goes on sale in North America this autumn, also will launch in South Africa at an early stage.
David Hughes, West Australian state manager-Mazda Australia, is to head the new Mazda operation in Johannesburg and will start work there immediately.
Hughes, an 18-year Mazda veteran, will spend the next 12 months building the foundation on which to grow the Mazda brand in South Africa using many of the systems and processes that have been successful for Mazda Australia.
He left Mazda in 1996 and worked his way up to general manager at Kia Australia before returning as Mazda’s West Australian state manager in 2003 and as national sales manager from 2006 to 2011.
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