December Auto Sales: Mazda

Mazda's US sales in 2012 rise 10.6 percent on gains for cars and trucks

IRVINE, Calif. (AP) -- Mazda North American Operations said Thursday that U.S. sales in 2012 rose 10.6 percent over 2011 on a strong December and brisk sales of the Mazda2, Mazda3 and the CX-5 small SUV.

BY THE NUMBERS: Mazda sold 277,046 vehicles last year, up from 250,426 in 2011. December sales rose 21.9 percent to 27,251.

TOP SELLER: The Mazda3 accounted for nearly two-thirds of the company's U.S. car sales at 123,361, up 20.4 percent from the year before.

HOT MODELS: Sales of the subcompact Mazda2 increased 38.4 percent to 19,315. Dealers sold 43,319 of the new CX-5 in its first year.