Mazda to increase dealerships over five years

Japan's fifth largest carmaker, Mazda Motor Corp, is to add 80 new dealerships to its existing network of 890 sales outlets in Japan by March 2008, it has been reported in the Tokyo press.

Mazda, which is one-third owned by Ford Motor Co, is also to increase its sales force in Japan to 4,800 by that time.

Most of the new dealerships will be opened by sales companies which are directly-owned subsidiaries of Mazda, the report said.

Mazda also intends to raise domestic sales to 320,000 vehicles in the year to March 2008.

The company's projection for this year is 290,000, and it aims to achieve the boost in figures by releasing new models and expanding its sales network, according to unnamed company sources.