With both Mazda’s Q1 global sales figures and the latest SMMT UK registration figures arriving recently, Mazda UK, Managing Director, Jeremy Thomson, explains how they tell two stories at the same time.
“The first is encouraging. UK new car registrations are continuing to recover, with the eighth successive month of growth and the strongest July since 2019, and battery electric vehicle registrations increasing by 44.5%.
The second is less encouraging. Despite record EV volumes, BEVs are forecast to only represent 27.4% of the market by year end and well below the 33% ZEV Mandate target for this year. That gap continues to be bridged by mandate flexibilities, significant manufacturer investment through discounting, incentives and the backdrop of high fuel prices.
For manufacturers, success today is no longer simply about building compelling electric vehicles. It’s about balancing customer demand, regulation, profitability and long-term investment at the same time.
Here at Mazda our first quarter results are a good example. Global sales increased, Europe grew by 12%, profitability improved significantly and the outlook remains positive. Much of that European momentum is being driven by the all-new CX-5 and Mazda6e, with the all-new CX-6e joining the range later this year to further strengthen our electrified line-up.
What’s particularly interesting is that our strategy has never been about chasing volume at any cost. Instead, it’s centred on delivering products customers genuinely want to buy while steadily expanding electrification as demand develops. In a market experiencing unprecedented regulatory and commercial pressure, creating long-term value is arguably more important than chasing short-term numbers.
The UK automotive industry has shown remarkable resilience over the past few years. The challenge now is ensuring that the pace of regulation, customer adoption and business sustainability remain aligned”.
