hornbm

iTrader: (1)

Cool story bro

ASH8

Wow, Mazda new car sales in US were down 27% in March to only 23,396 units.

Mazda reported selling 23,396 vehicles in March, a 27 percent decline, which left its first-quarter total at 17 percent behind last year’s pace.

Sales dropped for every model in the Mazda lineup in March except the new CX-3 crossover and the freshly redesigned MX-5 Miata roadster. Perhaps most worrisome for Mazda was a 31 percent drop in sales of the Mazda3 compact car, which now faces stiff competition from a newly redesigned Honda Civic and Hyundai Elantra.

Paul Passarelli, chairman of Mazda’s dealer council and general manager of two Mazda dealerships on Long Island, said dealers asked Mazda marketing chief Russell Wager about refining a digital marketing strategy for the Mazda3 to lure customers away from the Civic and Elantra.

“Mazda couldn’t have better products,” said Michelle Primm, managing partner of Cascade Auto Group near Akron, Ohio. “I just wish we had better floor traffic. If we can get people in, they’re sold.”

MattMPS

Here across EU Mazda is having great performances in terms of sales.

gwilliams6

And part of the problem was that Mazda had no new CX-9 to sell during the prime-SUV winter months in the US. Other dealers sold large amounts of their larger SUV's during the winter. Mazda chose to wait till spring to introduce its new CX-9 to America. Not great strategy during a time when even gas prices in the US were low. .

Just getting that traffic in the door to look at the new CX-9 would have given dealers a chance to sell those folks on a Mazda. And yes Mazda has good product, but poor advertising in the US.

Now gas prices are rising significantly again in the US, making it tougher to sell that new CX-9, especially if you want the most power out of that engine and need to use premium gas.

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

Does anyone know when the CX-9's are going to start arriving at dealerships in the states?

gwilliams6

All that dealers and folks I checked with will say is that Mazda says it will be spring. Well spring is here in the US and Canada (the first places the new CX-9 will be sold, according to Mazda). So soon. But it was kind of dumb not to have these out for the winter months. There were huge deals on the remaining 2015 CX-9s in dealerships, but since the news of the new CX-9 was out last fall, why would anyone buy the old clunker, which had poor offset crash ratings.

neit_jnf

Mazda needs a better dealer network... Imagine if they teamed up with Toyota to share dealer space...

gwilliams6

My dealer today says CX-9 allocations will come in May, but dealers are getting lower allocations than they requested. Mazda sure knows how to mess up even a new car debut !!

Bladecutter

Mazda has nothing on Fiat/Alfa Romeo when it comes to getting new vehicles to market in a timely manner, however. You simply add 9 months to a year on top of whatever they say their target timeline to reach market is.

BC.

Bladecutter

Yes they need a better dealer network, but no, they should not share space with a brand like Toyota. That's such a horribly bad idea to put them in house with a large direct competitor, who will steal even more sales than they currently already do.

If they should share sales room space, it should be with near luxury brands, like Volvo, Alfa Romeo, BMW, Buick, Audi, companies they are not exactly competing with, but you could directly compare interior design, and driving performance/quality.

Since they have a smaller customer base and a smaller dealer network than all of their competition, they should go full premium service, like Lexus. Offer loaners, concierge service, and set themselves apart in that regards with the brands that they do compete with - VW, Toyota, Honda, Hyundai, KIA, Ford, Chevrolet, Dodge, Nissan and Mitsubishi. There's no way these brands can roll out this type of service to all of their customers all across the US and Canada.

Another thing all stand alone Mazda dealers should have is a few competing vehicles in house, so that you can have a side by side comparison of the Mazda product versus the typical competing product. With how many various brands each dealership group has out there, Mazda should make this a requirement of these larger dealer networks. Let the people touch and feel the differences on their dealer lot, back to back.

Just a couple simple ideas.

BC.

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

I disagree. Mazda has a superior product in just about every class when compared to Toyota or Honda but what they don't have is foot traffic. They have a fraction of the visitors to their dealers then someone like Toyota. If people went to Toyota (because they just will and do) they would also see some gorgeous styled Mazdas and perhaps want to test drive them.

I actually don't think they need to share space with any other dealers but they do need better brand marketing and awareness. They also need to fire the majority of the useless salesmen they have at their current dealers. I've been to many Mazda dealerships across the USA in multiple states and every single one makes me think I'm dealing with a sleezy used car salesmen at an old run down mom and pop shop. Every one has had ill dressed salesmen smoking outside and joking with one another like they are hanging out at a high school. Then these people try to sell the cars so hard by either making up rediculous facts about the cars or simply not knowing a thing about them.

gwilliams6

FYI just on a trip to Kiev,Ukraine visiting my fiance' and i have seen a ton of Mazda CX-5s all over town. Saw four just in one block !! I don't know the sales numbers, but the folks here in Ukraine's capital city seem to love em'. Never seen them that dense in the US

Bladecutter

Come to Colorado.
There are at least 6 CX-5's in my office parking lot alone.

I was first.

I see dozens of CX-5's on every drive to and from work.

BC.

gwilliams6

that is great news bladecutter. they are popular in New jersey where Ii live also. but in comparing New York and Kiev, the two largest cities in US and Ukraine, the density of them in Kiev seems far greater than in New York . Just my private unscientific observation.

Obviously Colorado and Kiev which have heavy winters are both a great for four-wheel drive versions of the CX-5. The ones I saw in walking around Kiev were all four-wheel drive. I am guessing the ones near you in Colorado are also four-wheel drive versions.

cheers

ASH8

First small shipment (60) of TC CX-9's has arrived in Australia for press and Dealer evaluation ahead of it's public launch in July.

According to MA this model has had more pre-launch interest than any other recent new Mazda model, already 55,000 have registered interest online with 13,000 wanting to be directly contacted by a Mazda Dealer.

BTW: My mail is that this model will also be launched in UK and parts of Europe next year.

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

They are starting to pop up all over the place on cars.com for USA listings. Not sure they are actually at the dealer yet though.

MattMPS

probably the Eastern Europe /Russia.

in continental Western Europe there is small market for gasoline SUV/CUV. Maybe (just maybe) in Germany.

ASH8

Hey Matt...

I will triple check later but MMC Japan has issued VIN Codes/cross reference for various European markets ahead of actual production, I will get/check the new VIN Codes tomorrow.

Going on memory I am sure there was one for UK/Europe, JMZ.
JM0 for Australia (ADR)
JM1 for North America

ASH8

Great US review of the all new CX-9, interesting his only conclusion complaint was about POWER (funny that, just what I said would happen with no SA V6 option).
But a great 4T engine for normal use, just runs out of puff at highway speeds.

My complaint about this review/vid is the guy talks a little slow and does not say much.......

gwilliams6

Thanks Ash. I think the guy speaks at just the right pace for my American sensibilities, and he tells us and shows us a lot about the vehicle. I am sure the car is designed to be fine up to highway speed, but not a screamer. Not V6 power, but enough and more efficient. And though he speaks about less acceleration, he admits they have not had the chance to actually tests its acceleration with their standard tests. So if you want a faster Luxury SUV get the Pilot with its V-6, or the Volvo (whose turbo and supercharged 4 cylinder engine makes 300hp). I hope this will do fine in the marketplace.

Are-Ex-Eight

iTrader: (1)

I had the chance to take one for a test drive last week and I was not impressed. The power was lacking but to me, the steering and handling were sub par for Mazda. I also had a very hard time getting into the 3rd row and my head hit the ceiling (I'm only 5'10). The storage, even with the 3rd row folded flat, was minimal due to the very high floor level.

I think Mazda hit the mark on styling but missed on so many other areas that the average person who wants a 3 row vehicle will be looking for.

BTW - in classical Mazda marketing form the Mazdausa website is still showing a prototype vehicle picture with no "build" option despite the car being on sale in the USA now for several weeks.

zoom44

weird. the review i read on motor1.com said the power was fine but the interior was a little tight/snug/small and it didnt have some of the cool things like extra cubbies and rear seat entertainment that others have. So over all not as practical as others. but they also said when you see it and drive it it makes you think Porshe Macan and Jag FPace . They also say it's "ridiculously quiet inside"

First Drive: 2016 Mazda CX-9

zoom44

actualy got to watch that Video all the way thru Ash. It's quite an amazing review. I havent seen any one this thorough in a long while. Ill be watching more of his vids. and this is his "first look" type vid not even a full review after having it for awhile.

gwilliams6

2016 Mazda CX-9 First Drive ? Review ? Car and Driver

came in my email today. Sorry if this was posted before.

gwilliams6

Here is one great quote from that review, which speaks to the power
"Don’t let the figures fool you – there’s plenty of power on hand to move the 4,301-pound, AWD CX-9. Trim for trim, the CX-9 is anywhere from 258 to 269 pounds lighter than its predecessor, with 132 of those pounds taken right out of the nose (the 2.5T engine is a much more modern heart than the super-old 3.7-liter naturally aspirated V6). Running through the hills of downtown San Francisco, there’s enough grunt to move you up with a quickness, with only a touch of low-end turbo lag noticeable on these steep climbs. But out on the 101 freeway and iconic Pacific Coast Highway leading up toward Bodega Bay, the CX-9 is surefooted and powerful. The turbo engine never overwhelms you with its punch, and the transmission keeps the revs low, right around the 2,000-2,500 rpm sweet spot where peak torque is delivered."

As Zoom44 says above, its the lack of interior size and cubbies and entertainmant goodies that could hurt it sales. Maybe Mazda will address that in the next version.