Mazda Says SUVs Will Drive Record Sales

Mazda Motor Corp. says an expanded lineup of SUV/crossover vehicles will help it post record sales in each of the next two fiscal years.

Mazda hiked sales from a record 1.39 million vehicles in fiscal 2014 to some 1.51 million units in the 12-month period that ended today. It expects sales to reach 1.56 million in fiscal 2016 and 1.65 million in fiscal 2017, The Nikkei reports.

This year’s sales will be aided by the redesigned CX-9 large crossover, which will debut in the U.S. this spring. Mazda expects to sell 50,000 of the vehicles, including 80% of them in North America. The company also will introduce the CX-4 sporty crossover in China, where it targets annual sales of 20,000-30,000 vehicles.