Mazda Eyes Record Sales In 2024, Plans For 450,000 Units In 2025

Mazda is gearing up to smash its U.S. sales record from 1986, with more than 420,000 vehicles expected to roll off dealer lots in 2024. Specifically, that’s a 16% jump from last year, and the momentum doesn’t seem to be slowing down anytime soon.

Tom Donnelly, Mazda’s North American president, is already eyeing 450,000 sales for 2025. “We’re growing our business in what has largely been a stable industry,” Donnelly said, crediting the surge to strong demand for Mazda’s crossovers and SUVs.

But while Mazda’s sales are heating up, its approach to electric vehicles has been more cautious. Right now, it offers three hybrids—the CX-50 hybrid, which borrows tech from Toyota, and plug-in hybrid versions of the CX-70 and CX-90.

In the future, Mazda intends to introduce its own hybrid system and experiment with a fully electric model by 2027. That would mark its first EV since the short-lived MX-30, which quietly faded away after struggling to gain traction.

Mazda isn’t rushing to go all-in on EVs, though. Donnelly pointed out that electric cars still make up only about 10% of the U.S. market. “We’re not the kind of brand to make big promises about going fully electric by a certain date,” he said.

Instead, Mazda is betting that hybrids and plug-ins will hit the sweet spot for buyers who aren’t ready to make the leap to full electric.

So far, that strategy seems to be working. More Americans are warming up to hybrids and plug-ins, and Mazda’s steady growth stands out in a market that’s expected to grow just 2.3% overall this year.

Mazda is climbing fast, but it’s not quite caught up to brands like Subaru, Kia, or even Nissan, which has had its own struggles lately. Still, Mazda’s steady approach and focus on what customers actually want is clearly paying off.