Mazda
Motor Corporation has just posted the highest operating profit in its 94-year
history for the fiscal year that ended on 31 March 2014.
The Japanese carmaker earned a global operating profit
of ¥182.1 billion* (€1.36 billion), a 238 per cent year-on-year increase and 12
per cent higher than the previous record (¥162 billion) set in 2008.
On top of this, profits
strengthened steadily over the course of year: The fourth-quarter return on
sales reached 7.6 per cent compared to 6.8 per cent for the full year and 2.4
per cent for the prior year.
Mazda recorded gains in all
other key categories, too, as ongoing structural reforms at the company gained
traction.
Global net earnings during
fiscal 2013-14 quadrupled relative to the previous year to ¥135.7 billion
(€1.01 billion) on revenue of ¥2.69 trillion (€20.1 billion), up 22 per cent.
Worldwide sales volume, meanwhile, hit 1.33 million units, an 8 per cent gain.
In Europe (EU, EFTA
& Turkey), unit sales were up 25 per cent to 163,000,
also gaining steam in the second half.
Among the major European
markets, the UK outperformed with 35 per cent growth to 35,000 units, and Germany,
Europe's largest market, witnessed a 20 per cent gain to 47,000. Revenue in the
region rose to €3.5 billion, up 28 per cent in spite of a stagnant European
passenger car market.
Elsewhere, Mazda boosted
sales in Japan 13 per cent to 244,000 units. Vehicle turnover in China rose 12
per cent to 196,000, while North American sales grew 5 per cent to 391,000 units.
Mazda remained strong on Australia, selling 104,000 units, where it is the
number three brand with a 9.2 per cent market share.
Mazda's success can be
attributed to its new-generation models. Featuring SKYACTIV Technology and
award-winning KODO - Soul of Motion designs, demand for the Mazda CX-5 and
Mazda6 has not let up.
The new Mazda3, which
arrived in the second-half, has also enjoyed a positive reception wherever it
has been launched.
The strong performance also
reflects the company's ongoing structural reforms to improve costs and
establish global production. Mazda has achieved its profit goals well ahead of
schedule, and even managed to beat its all-time record operating profit despite
a far less favourable yen exchange rate than in 2008.
By continuing its reform
efforts, expanding global capacity - Mazda is now ramping up production at its
new plant in Mexico and expanding capabilities in Malaysia, Russia and Thailand
- and pursuing an aggressive model-launch schedule, the unconventional carmaker
expects its top and bottom lines to increase further during the current fiscal
year.
The company forecasts a
rise in full-year operating profits of ¥28 billion to ¥210 billion (€1.56
billion) and net income of ¥160 billion (€1.19 billion), up ¥24 billion. Global
revenue, meanwhile, is pegged at ¥2.9 trillion (€21.5 billion), up almost 8 per
cent year-on-year.
In November 2010, Ford
Motor Company announced that like General Motors management, it had decided to
sell some of its ownership stakes to Mazda, leaving the US automaker with a
stake of 13 per cent, down from 34 per cent.
At the time, Ford and Mazda
said they would continue to rely on one another.
Mazda’s chairman, president
and chief executive officer, Hisakazun Imaki, said “The sale of Mazda shares by
our partner, Ford, will not result in any change in Mazda’s strategic direction
and we will continue to accelerate our product-led brand improvement and cost
innovation measures…….
We will continue our strategic relationship through our ongoing joint ventures
with Ford, as well as the sharing of platforms and powertrain.”
Alan Mulally, Ford’s
president and chief executive officer, added: “The agreement allows Ford to
raise capital that will help fund our product-led transformation.”
* Source: Mazda Motor Corporation's "Consolidated
Financial Results for the Fiscal Year Ended March 31, 2014. Euro figures were
calculated at €1 = ¥134. The forecasts for Mazda's current fiscal year ending on 31 March 2015 are
based on the exchange rate of €1 = ¥135 ∎
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