Mazda Australia continues to perform well achieving their second best October on record and maintaining pole position as Australia's leading importer and fourth in the market, according to VFACTS figures released today.

Recording 6.6 per cent market share year-to-date and 4769 retail sales for the month, Mazda Australia is finishing 2006 strongly. Mazda6 was a highlight recording 984 sales, Mazda's class-leading mid-sized car also recently benefited from a newly introduced diesel engine.

The world's most popular roadster, the MX-5, continued to shine achieving 143 retail sales giving it leadership in its segment. The addition of a powered hard-top version, MX-5 Roadster Coupe, helped boost sales.

Mazda2 and Mazda3 recorded strong months, obtaining 421 and 2585 retail sales respectively.

"We are very pleased with another strong sales month for Mazda Australia. We are the leading importer and fourth in the market, this is a huge achievement and one that we are very proud of," Mazda Australia's managing director, Mr Doug Dickson said.

"As we near year's end, we still have two critical new products to release. In mid-November, the all new SUV crossover, CX-7, will go on sale. This is a very important car for Mazda Australia and has had a fantastic reception by the public at the recent Australian International Motor Show.

"In December we will release our new BT-50 one-tonne utility, which replaces the current B-Series. This is also a highly anticipated truck and we expect it to re-assert Mazda's position in the commercial segment."