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Mazda set to take centre stage at event to celebrate all things speed


IT’S BEEN announced that Mazda will be the Central Fea- ture Marque at the 2015 Good- wood Festival of Speed. In a year that sees the debut of three all-new models from the Japanese car maker, Mazda will take centre stage at the world’s most prestigious motoring fes- tival, celebrating its challenger spirit with both the racing leg- ends of its illustrious sporting past and the stylish cars of its current range.


Throughout its history Maz-


da has defied convention with its innovative approach to car making. It’s the only Japanese manufacturer to win the Le Mans 24 Hour Race, to persist with development of the ro- tary engine and champion the affordable sports car with the MX-5. With the launch of the Mazda


2, the introduction of theMazda CX-3 small SUV and debut of the MkIV MX-5, Mazda’s range


will take a starring role at the Goodwood Festival of Speed and the Moving Motor Show. In line with the Flat-out and


Fearless: Racing on the Edge theme of the festival, enthusi- asts will hear Mazda’s 1991 Le Mans winning 787B Group C car and other classics from its competition past. Jeremy Thomson, Mazda Mo-


tors UK managing director, said: “Mazda has a long, proud heritage in racing.”


Production down slightly but prospects are looking good


Wednesday, February 25, 2015


CAR production slipped slightly last month but the motor industry expects vehi- cle manufacturing to bounce back with a vengeance this year.


There were 127,385 cars made in the UK in January 2015, a decrease of 1.2% com- pared with January 2014, the Society of Motor Manufactur- ers and Traders (SMMT) said. “Vehicle manufacturers


have invested heavily in the UK in recent years to bring new models and technology to our factories,” said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes. “The slight dip in output in January is as a result of this investment as major UK car manufacturers begin produc- tion of new models. As pro- duction ramps up throughout the year, we expect to see the sector’s output increase.” The SMMT has also an- nounced that exports of cars to China have increased five- fold since 2009. In 2014, a total of 137,410 UK-


built cars were exported to China, an increase of 14.5% over 2013. Only theUKbought more British-built cars than China last year. The SMMT said the trend in China reflected substantial growth in the wider Asian market, with the number of UK-built cars exported to Asia having more than tre- bled in five years. In 2014, the UK exported 220,682 cars to the region, compared to 60,804 in 2009. Asia is now the UK automo- tive industry’s largest export market after Europe, with 18.5% of all cars destined for the region. In 2014 the automotive sector


represented a greater share of total UK exports than ever before, accounting for 11.2% of revenue, valued at £26.2 bil- lion.


The UK exported 1,195,190


cars tomorethan 100 countries worldwide last year, marking a 54.7% increase over 2009,when 772,210 cars were exported.


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