Mazda really seem to be going places in China, the Mazda 6 is selling like crazy (maybe even more than its partner, the Mondeo) The Mazda 3 is also doing well, although we seldom see the new Mazda 3 (probably because its only just been launched) The Mazda 2 is getting ready to go on the market and now we hear that the FAW (the joint venture partners of Mazda) are going to put the Mazda 5 into production.
The good looking Mazda 5 is (pictured left) already popular in the EU and the USA but we cant help but thinking if this is a nail in the coffin for the Mazda Premacy which is made by Hainan Mazda (another JV partner of Mazda, but owned by FAW anyway) Will the Mazda 5 be named the Hainan Mazda 5? Will we see a cheaper version in the Hainan Haima line up of cars?
As well as the Mazda 5, FAW also have plans to make the Mazda 8 MPV which is currently only marketed in Japan and Hong Kong. The Hong Kong price is 270,000HKD which seems a bit steep, we’re sure the Chinese domestic price will be much lower than this if it was to be made here. The Mazda8 (below)looks like it will go up well against the legions of Honda Odyssey people carries that are currently going around town.
Mazda 8:
Seems like this is the year for Mazda! In UK, the most powerful front wheel drive hot hatch Mazda 3 MPS is also hitting the market with its excellent performance and impressive parts such as its Mazda brake disc. It was put to test at the Nürburgring track just today.
Hainan and Mazda split about half a year ago, the Chinese government didn’t allow Mazda to have three partners: FAW Car, Chang’an-Ford-Mazda and Hainan-Mazda. Hainan-Mazda is now called Haima and develops cars (Mazda copies) at her own, like the Haima 3 and H11.
And oh yes, as a result of this divorce, the Hainan-Mazda Premacy has got a name change, it is now called Haima Cosmo or Haima Freema.