Shanghai (ZXZC)- Mazda's China vehicle sales amounted to 20,597 units in July, falling 10.6% compared with the same period in 2017, Mazda Motor (China) Co., Ltd said on August 3. From January to July, the automaker saw its cumulative sales in China reach a new high of 166,436 units, a year-on-year increase of 5.0%.

As to its two joint ventures in China, FAW-Mazda's year-to-date sales presented a tiny year-on-year drop of 1.0% with 67,132 vehicles handed over for the first seven months. The company plans to launch the overhauled model of its sales driver Atenza in 2019, which is expected to carry the next-generation SKYACTIV-X engine, boasting lower fuel consumption and stronger impetus.

Changan Mazda achieved a year-on-year growth in cumulative sales with 99,304 vehicles delivered from January to July. The automaker is ready to introduce the brand-new Mazda CX-8 SUV in the fourth quarter, which has been unveiled at 2017 Tokyo Motor Show, and start to locally produce the new model afterwards.

Mazda announced in 2017 its global strategy for the technology development dubbed “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030”. As part of this strategy, the company disclosed plans to introduce next-generation SKYACTIV-X engine next year and all-new body structure. Reportedly, models carrying the SKYACTIV-X engine will be introduced in China next year and some electric vehicle models designed for China's market will be delivered in this country in 2020.