Based on the Sustainable Zoom-Zoom formulated in March 2007, Mazda is focusing its energies on the development of environmental and safety technologies. During the seven-year period from 2001 to 2008, the average fuel economy of Mazda vehicles sold in Japan improved by around 30%, and after fulfilling our objective of achieving 2010 fuel efficiency standards for all weight classes of passenger vehicles in FY2007, we maintained this fuel economy standard in FY2008 as well. In terms of cleaner exhaust emissions, the proportion of our vehicles classified as Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicles (SU-LEVs) reached 95.9%, in the highest level figure for any Japanese automobile manufacturer (excluding OEM vehicles).

Japan's new Green Tax system (a preferential tax system to promote the use of environmentally friendly vehicles) came into force on April 1, 2009. This tax system enables purchasers of new vehicles that have outstanding environmental performance and meet specified fuel economy and exhaust gas standards to receive tax breaks on the automobile weight tax and automobile acquisition tax until FY2012.

As of 2009, ten Mazda models*1, including the Axela, Biante, and Demio, meet the fuel economy and exhaust gas standards under the new Green Tax system, with a predicted eligibility rate of approximately 70% of registered passenger vehicles.