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All Mazda Vehicles From Car-Carrying Vessel Cougar Ace to Be Scrapped
2006-12-15 13:00 (New York)

   IRVINE, Calif., Dec. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Mazda Motor Corporation today
announced that all of the U.S.- and Canada-bound Mazda vehicles from the
car-carrying vessel, Cougar Ace, which nearly capsized off the Aleutian
Islands in late July, would be scrapped.

   "After thorough testing by engineers from our North American and
Japanese
R&D centers, we decided the most appropriate course of action -- with our
customers foremost in mind -- was not to sell any of the 4,703 Mazdas aboard
the ship," said Jim O'Sullivan, President and CEO of Mazda North American
Operations, based in Irvine, Calif.

   The Cougar Ace sat listing at more than 60-degrees for nearly a month
after an incident at sea, before it could be towed to the Port of Portland,
Ore., for repairs and to have its cargo off-loaded.

   O'Sullivan added that although some of the Mazdas aboard the Cougar Ace
showed little or no visible damage from being tied-down at severe angles for
an extended period, the potential for future problems led the company to
reconsider its initial decision to sell any of the vehicles as used.

   "We always put the customer first," O'Sullivan continued.  "This drove
our
decision to scrap every one of the Mazdas involved in this incident."

   Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., Mazda North American Operations
oversees
the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles
in
the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers.  Operations
in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario, Canada, and
in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.

SOURCE  Mazda Motor Corporation

CONTACT:
Jeremy Barnes, Mazda North American Operations, +1-949-727-6844, or mobile
+1-
714-296-1402, or Jay Amestoy, Mazda North American Operation,
+1-949-727-6443,
or mobile +1-949-466-0928, or Greg Young, Mazda Canada, Inc., 905-787-7094
-0- Dec/15/2006 18:00 GMT