Mazda Exit Strategy
January 27th, 2010 by Richard Aucock
MAZDA UK MD Jeremy Thomson has praised the official Exit Strategy for handling the end of the scrappage scheme.
He said it will guarantee the Japanese brand will get sufficient and fair funding from what’s left of the scrappage pot.
What’s more, the Japanese brand has also been planning for the end of scrappage, and won’t be caught out: it has built stocks of the most popular cars sold under scrappage, to ensure they will be delivered before the funding deadline.
‘This really is the only fair way the Government could have divided up the remaining budget,’ said Thomson. ‘It is good news for Mazda as we achieved the biggest retail share in our history last year.
‘Based on our 2009 retail share and our forecast for 2010, we will get sufficient funding from the Government to satisfy our customers’ needs for the balance of the scrappage scheme.’
He said car dealers should be advising customers order as soon as they can, though. Otherwise, they’ll face missing out on the limited funds – they are strictly limited once Phase 2 of the Exit Strategy kicks in.
Mazda post scrappage
The firm has not said what it will do after scrappage – but Thomson said the same sort of deals will not be on the table.
‘It is reasonable to assume that once the Government money runs out any offers from the majority of manufacturers will not be at the same level.’
Thomson also revealed the hit model for Mazda under scrappage has been the Mazda2 supermini – but the entire range has done OK, too.
‘While we have seen 75 percent of our scrappage sales going to Mazda2, we have also seen Mazda3 and Mazda6 selling well and even sportscars such as MX-5 and RX-8 have been purchased through the scheme.’
There’s an extra incentive for car buyers from Mazda, too – at the moment, total discounts on the RX-8 are £5000, for example. This means car dealers should expect at least some manufacturer support to still be on the table once scrappage ends…
If you are a Mazda car dealer, has the scrappage scheme been a real success for you – and, when it ends, what next?
Tags: exit strategy, mazda, scrappage