MAZDA Motor Europe has officially launched two new sales companies (NSC) in the Czech and Slovak Republics. Last week, the company transferred distribution from distributor Auto Palace Praha.

The move is part of a Mazda strategy to take direct control of distribution in Europe. Its newest NSCs have 26 dealerships in the Czech Republic and 13 in Slovakia. The company said the combined regions sell in excess of a quarter of million cars every year with annual growth of about 3% expected.