THE first Mazda2 has rolled off the production line at Ford's plant in Valencia.

Mazda has planned annual production of 40,000 units for the new compact model that it is solely aiming at the European market.

Mazda Motor Europe vice-president for sales, Dan Morris, said: 'Mazda2 is the second model to come from Mazda's resurgence strategy, which we call the Millennium Plan.

'Like the first newcomer, the Mazda6, it is a car that has been designed and developed specifically to meet the needs, demands and expectations of the European customers.

'As such it will play a key role in increasing our market share and brand awareness across Europe.'