Mazda Prepares to Abandon the Minivan Market

Mazda Motor Corp. plans to phase out its lineup of three minivan models by the end of 2017, according to The Nikkei, which cites no sources.

The Tokyo-based newspaper says Mazda will stop making its MPV minivan, also known as the Mazda8, as soon as late 2016. The carmaker's small Premacy (Mazda5) midsize van and big 8-seat Biante will end production next year. Mazda also will stop selling rebadged Premacy units to Nissan Motor Co.

Mazda will redeploy its minivan capacity to an expanding array of crossover vehicles, the global auto market’s hottest-selling segment, the report says. The Nikkei notes that Mazda plans to roll out a new 7-passenger crossover variant of its midsize CX-5 small crossover in about two years.

Mazda’s overall minivan sales have sagged about 25% since 2010 to about 10,600 units last year in Japan. The report says the company will cede the shrinking market for vans to larger carmakers who continue to supply demand.