Mazda’s Operating Income Jumps 54%

Mazda Motor Corp.'s operating income surged in its fiscal first quarter to 56.4 billion yen ($549 million) from 36.5 billion yen in April-June 2013.

Quarterly revenue climbed 15% to 705.6 billion yen ($6.9 billion), and unit sales advanced 6% to 319,000 units. Net income soared eightfold to 48.9 billion yen ($476 million).

Mazda's unit sales in Japan fell 16% to 40,000 units because of a slump caused by a hike in the country's consumption tax in April. But demand climbed 16% to 110,000 units in North America, 23% to 56,000 units in Europe and 18% to 44,000 in China.

Separately, the company reports its worldwide output of passenger vehicles grew 16% to 108,300 units in June. Production for the first half of the calendar year rose 7% to 608,800 vehicles.

Mazda's output of commercial vehicles plunged 23% to 33,500 units in January-June, including a 28% drop to 5,600 units last month.