Mazda: Market growth now comes from after-sales services

Jerome de Haan, Mazda's regional manager for Central and South-Eastern Europe, expects sales of the Japanese car brand to remain similar this year to the 2010 level, with the first-quarter decline to be offset by subsequent growth after the start of the car srappage scheme. On the Romanian market Mazda sold 113 cars in the first quarter of this year, down 50% against the similar time last year, according to statistics of the Romanian Association of Automotive Manufacturers and Importers (APIA). Mazda's market share in the first quarter of the year, taking only cars into account, was 0.8%, similar to that recorded in 2010. "There are no estimates of a future boom on the market, but neither are there expectations of the market plummeting again. Now we are focusing on helping dealers post revenue increases from after-sale services. When the number of cars sold does not increase, the importance of car servicing becomes greater, helping the dealership continue to make a profit," de Haan said.