Ford reintroduces Mazda in RP

Ford Group Philippines formally reintroduced yesterday the Mazda brand in the local market.

Ford Group Philippines president Henry Co said the Mazda brand, while part of the Ford family, would be handled independently by Mazda Philippines.

For this year, Co disclosed, Mazda would bring in four models.

The first two to be introduced next week would be the high-end sedan Mazda 6 and the sport utility vehicle Tribute.

Later in the year, Co said, Mazda would bring in two more vehicles, most likely the Protege and a still undetermined model.

Mazda has no immediate plans of selling a pick-up model.

For this year alone, Co said, Mazda hopes to be able to sell at least 2,000 units.

Mazda will also initially set up one dealership at the corner of Quezon Avenue and Araneta Avenue and put up two more in Metro Manila within the year.

According to Co, Mazda would establish more provincial dealerships next year.

"With Mazda’s 2,000 domestic production, Ford’s projected production this year is expected to reach 25,000 units with 16,000 units intended for export and 7,000 units under the Ford brand," Co said.

"In 2003, the Ford Group’s total production, reached only 19,000 units with 13,500 exported to Thailand and Indonesia," Co said.

The expected higher export figure of 16,000 units this year, Co said, is due to the addition of two more ASEAN markets.

"One of these markets is Vietnam, while the other market is still under wraps," Co said.

According to Co, in terms of volume, the Ford Group should actually be ranked number two in terms of total sales, both domestic and exports.

"The Ford Group, invested roughly about $25 million for the Mazda brand out of the earlier $50 million that Ford announced it is investing in the Philippines," Co explained.