Mazda opens a second showroom along Alexandra

ON 29 JANUARY, Mazda Motor Singapore, the official distributor for Mazda cars here opened up its second showroom with a total floor area of around 51,000 square feet along Alexandra Road, including almost 20,000 square feet of showroom space that can display up to 14 cars.

This adds on to Mazda’s already established showroom off MacPherson Road and adds a much-needed presence along the main Leng Kee/Alexandra automotive sales area of Singapore and “will further enhance the standard of customer care and services”, says Mr Phng Hooi Chay, Mazda Motor Singapore’s managing director.

Other highlights at the showroom’s launch was the local debut of the face-lifted CX-7 sport utility vehicle that has a new 2.5-litre engine (see review on page 10), and the unveiling of the stunning Mazda Kiyora concept car which first debuted at the 2008 Paris Motor Show.

Also present at the event was Mr Kazuhiko Hayashi, general manager of Mazda’s asia & pacific overseas sales division, whom CarBuyer spoke to and found out more about the future of the brand here.

Q&A with Kazuhiko Hayashi, general manager of Mazda’s asia and pacific overseas sales division

CB: In a local context, where do you see the Mazda brand now and where do you see it heading in the future?

KH: We are not one of the bigger players, but we see ourselves as a unique brand with our ‘Zoom-Zoom’ philosophy.

CB: Could you tell us more about this Mazda way?

KH: We have come up with a design language and are constantly evolving this, while still keeping the essence of our current styling trends. The Kiyora is a good example of this employing our Nagare (Japanese for ‘flow’) design language.

CB: What are the key tactics you use to market your cars in Singapore?

KH: Key tactics will be building up Mazda’s brand image and to make it appeal to customers who enjoy good driving dynamics. Also, we place a very large premium on customer satisfaction.

CB: Obviously a future Mazda will have to tie in with environmental consciousness as well. What is Mazda doing with regards to hybrids and alternative power?

KH: Of course, we are developing hybrids, hydrogen fuel cells and electric-powered vehicles. Still, there is no firm trend established throughout the industry as to which will be the powertrain of the future. What we are focusing on now is enhancing the efficiency of the conventional internal combustion engine and we feel it’s a good way utilising existing technology to pursue environmental consciousness while reining in development costs.

CB: What kind of qualities will a Mazda of the future embody?

KH: I can definitely say the future will be an evolution of our current strategy. It will feel fun to drive and be driven very much by design as well.

CB: What will be the future of ‘Zoom-Zoom’?

KH: A bigger “wow” factor than what we have now! (laughs).