To date Mazda has averaged 7.4 per cent share, up from 6.7 per cent in 2005, while the company’s share of the passenger car market is averaging 10 per cent, up from 9.0 per cent last year, according to VFACTS figures.

Mazda3 was the company’s best seller with 2577 retails and the range-topping 115 kilowatt SP23 sedan and hatch again proving to be popular selling close to 30 per cent of the sales mix.

Mazda3 finished second, with 15.8 per cent share, in the VFACTS sub $40,000 Small car category.

Mazda6 also had a strong month, selling 1213 vehicles and taking the number one import position in the Medium sub $55,000 segment, achieving 22.1 per cent share.

Further buoyed by its Wheels Car of the Year success the new MX-5 has its second best month with 162 sales, topping the sub $80,000 Sports category in February with 16 per cent share.

Other Mazda results included 552 Mazda2 sales, 456 B Series and 315 Tributes.

Mazda Australia’s national vehicle sales manager, Vinesh Bhindi, said: “This is a great result given the overall market is a little weaker so far this year. It once again demonstrates the style, dynamic, quality, safety and value appeal of our new-generation models.

“These Mazda attributes continue to resonate very strongly with Australian car buyers”.

Mazda Australia expects to retail 67,000 vehicles this year in a market that will reach about 975,000 sales.