http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1000...523797780.html

So they continue to post losses today. I knew they were down on sales due to the earthquake and tsunami but I didn't know there future projects are going to be on the down hill as well.

Perhaps they need a partner again? Considering Ford sold almost all of their part during the meltdown. I would see a partnership with Hyundai/Kia.

I really hope the upcoming CX-5 will boost sales. As well as the redesigned 6 when it arrives in another year or so. The RX-8 is gone and the current 6 has seen a decrease in sales every year since its inception.

The yen is gaining ground though. So perhaps they need to expand manufacturing over here?

Mazda's my favorite car company. I hope they get there stuff together.

 

Sergio Marchionne, Fiat-Chrysler's CEO, said he was looking for one more partner.

 

They could partner with Ford and make a mini-truck...

 

Mazda or Fiat?

 

Please, god, anyone but Fiat-Chrysler...

 

Mazda does some great cars, but I think they need to sharped their distinctive identity (sporty, non-boring cars) that has given them their best models. There seems to be a tug of war between the suits, who want to purvey mainstream, high volume, low interest factor cars ala Nissan, Toyota and Honda versus the car guys and engineers. The latter are the ones who keep the rotary alive, the MS3 rocketing along and the Miata delivering more smiles per hp than any car made. I think the suits have been predominating lately and Mazda sales and profits show it.

 

I'd love to see Mazda partner with Ford again like they did in the past. I think it could be mutually beneficial, although it would probably benefit Mazda more (a big cash infusion from Ford), and that is fine with me.

 

I actually think Mazda should focus on more serious cars for older buyers. With their current lineup they have limited customers, pretty much nobody over the age of 35 would buy a Mazda.

 

That's what the tried to do with the Mazda 6 last time. It failed terribly. They should stay with their "zoom zoom" mentality.

 

I dunno man, my boss has a fully loaded Mazda 3 2.5L. It's sporty and fun to drive, but it's also very loud and as comfortable as my F-150. I really hated it.
Heck, even my buddy's Hyundai Accent is better to drive for daily driving.

 

From this and other of your posts, it sounds like you aren't in their target audience. Not a slam on you, just stating things as I see them. If Mazda tries to make their cars less sporty, more comfortable, more quiet, and appealing to the 35+ crowd, they'll be taking on Toyota and Honda and Hyundai head on, and I just don't see them succeeding taking on the giants in the industry where they are already successful. I know if Mazda starts making "more serious cars for older buyers" they will be off my radar for future car purchases.

 

Mazdas are type of cars that everybody likes, but barely anyone buys. Their product are pretty good, but I read somewhere that their sales have been the same over the past 15 years.
And I don't think there is anything wrong in going against Toyota and Honda. I mean, Hyundai has done it, they're larger than Honda now and I'm sure that in the near future they will be larger than Toyota too. Built as good or better product at lower prices.
I guess I’m getting old (and I’m only 27), but I would buy anything from Mazda. Because of my job I spent half of my working time behind the wheel and Mazdas are just too loud and uncomfortable for that.
This is something that I would love to own - Citroen C4. Serious, yet sporty. And because it's a Citroen it's very confortable.

 

Too bad it seems the broader car buying public doesn't care about "driver's cars" and prefers the rolling appliances put out by Toyota, Honda, and (now) Hyundai. Hoping whoever Mazda may end up with doesn't mess things up.

 

They'd never win against Toyota and Honda because Mazda isn't boring. People seem to love these boring, extremely cookie cutter cars these days.

Now I think Mazda will be in a better position once they remove the Nagare (aka smiley face) designs out of their lineup with the new Kodo design language.

I think a big thing that has turned people away from Mazda lately is their fuel efficiency. As compared to the other Japanese manufacturers, they're extremely low. Now whether thats a good trade off for the extra handling and performance, is up to the person buying. However, now that they've fixed the fuel efficiency issue (alas, the 40mpg Mazda 3 and 35mpg CX-5) I think they're going to regain some market share.

Then comes the new Miata, which has always consistently sold well. Will be dropping around 400-500lbs in its new iteration and getting slightly smaller. Putting it close to the 1 ton mark. Add to that new skyactiv engine and transmission and you'll get a 40mpg Miata.

I think Mazda still going to need a partner, but I think they have plenty of stuff in the pipeline to stay competitive in the future.

 

That looks good. But at the same time it looks like all the rest.
(Most) Cars are so boring these days because everybody copies everybody else.

 

That's because driver's cars are fun for weekend driving. Majority of people don't wanna live with them all the time.

 

But thankfully there have been enough of us that do enjoy owning driver's cars, and using them daily, to have kept Mazda alive all of these years. Apparently not enough to make Mazda grow and thrive, but if they play their cards right, they should be able to keep building fun driver's cars, and at least stay alive as a company.

Given the choice between driving my Miata or our new Fusion to work, or just running errands around town or whatever, I'll choose the Miata every time, unless I need to haul the kids around, we're going more than 100 miles form home, or it is below 30 degrees out side.

 

Thats what Mazda's banking on.

 

I dunno man, they're not expanding all they need is few bad years and they'll be in deep problems. I mean, that happened to Mitsubishi.
I'm not saying "forget sporty and build only boring", but companies needs to find something that fit both categories. Ford has been doing a pretty good job with that and so does Hyundai and Kia. Mazda right now has a really limited customers and most of them have a much smaller budget than buyers age 35-60.