Mazda Motor’s chief executive Masahiro Moro on Watch Educating Elainia (2006)July 14 warned of an increasingly tough business situation in China in the next 12-18 months, pledging a strategic overhaul as the Japanese automaker comes under increased pressure from Chinese electric vehicle makers. Moro added the company has no intention to “scale back” but will instead seek to “turn the tide” with the release of new EV models. He also projected some cost cutting on fixed assets in the coming months, without revealing further details. Mazda’s sales in China fell 41% year-on-year to just over 108,000 units last year, and it is not the only global automaker struggling for market share in the country. Peer Mitsubishi Motors, along with its Chinese partner GAC Group, on July 12 informed employees of the suspension of production and layoffs at their joint venture, citing declining sales. [Reuters]
