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.March 24, 2004
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This Week:

• The New BMW 1 Series

• High Performance SV-R A Hit At Geneva

• Sebring Convertible Reigns Supreme in U.S. Convertible Market

• Mazda Builds MX-5 Number 700,000

• Toyota Hosts Auction on eBay for the Fight Against Women's Cancers and Supports the 2004 Revlon Run/Walk For Women in Los Angeles

• DaimlerChrysler Removes Topic of Variable Supervisory Board Remuneration from the Agenda of the 2004 Annual Meeting

• Where The Rubber Meets The Runway: GM And IADT Fuel Student Fashion Show With Clothing Designs Inspired By Today's Hottest Vehicles

• Nissan Announces Management and Organizational Changes

• One year after the launch: The Touran is most frequently bought in Germany

• Louisville Plant Gets Multi-Million Dollar Expansion

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Mazda Builds MX-5 Number 700,000

The company that reinvented the roadster extends its record-setting production for lightweight, open two-seater sports cars
 

Photo: Mazda

Hiroshima - Mazda Motor Corporation marked a significant production milestone on March 5th as the 700,000th Mazda Roadster rolled off the assembly line at the Ujina1 plant near Mazda's headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan. Vehicle number 700,000 is powered by the turbocharged 1.8-liter, 178 PS engine and painted Velocity Red Mica, and bound for the U.S. market. This milestone was achieved 14 years and 11 months after the first Mazda Roadster was launched in April 1989 and further extends Mazda's world record for production volume of a two-seat convertible sports car.

In May 2000, the Mazda Roadster was recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the world's top-selling two-seater roadster with a cumulative production volume of 531,890 units (*). To mark the new production milestone, Mazda will re-apply with the Guinness organization in an effort to reestablish the record.

The original Mazda Roadster debuted at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989 and was launched in Europe later that year. The Mazda Roadster debuted in Japan in September 1989.

Currently in its 15th year of production, the best-selling sports car and Mazda brand icon has become the symbol of driving pleasure in many markets throughout the world. Roadster fans around the globe have established driving clubs in an effort to support their shared enthusiasm for the vehicle. Since launch, the Roadster has captured more than 100 international automotive awards.

The Roadster was developed based on the simple and pure concept of "oneness between car and driver." With its fun-to-drive, lightweight open-top design and simple, distinctive styling, it is instantly recognizable as a product embodying Mazda's "Zoom-Zoom" brand philosophy.

The first generation Roadster made its debut in 1989 with the production volume reaching just over 430,000 units during eight years of production. This was followed by the introduction of the current, second-generation model in January 1998. With the continual refinement of its engine and chassis, as well as introduction of various limited-edition models in markets across the globe, the lightweight sports car has continued to meet the high expectations of driving enthusiasts.

The most recent offerings of the Mazda Roadster include the two-seat Roadster Coupe released in October 2003 in Japan and a turbocharged model launched initially in Japan in December 2003 and now also available in North America and Australia. In December 2001, Mazda introduced the Roadster NR-A in the Japanese market, a model specifically designed for the motor sports beginner to race in Roadster Party Races (one-make races) sponsored in Japan by Mazda.

(*) Produced between April 1989 and October 1999.

(March 17, 2004)