Marque gives ute the boot

Mazda New Zealand has confirmed the BT-50 is being dropped from its line-up this year, which will end 58 years of the company selling utes in the domestic market.

The marque sold 347 units of the model last year, which was less than six per cent of its total sales, and there is several months of stock remaining in showrooms.

However, Mazda NZ says it has received its final order of BT-50s from Japan and the model will disappear once the remaining allocation has been sold, reports Stuff.

David Hodge, managing director, adds: “The conclusion of the BT-50 is certainly the end of an era for Mazda in New Zealand. It is a model that has served the country well, over many years.

“Undeniably the market has changed significantly over the past few years: the move towards SUVs, a greater uptake of electrified vehicles, and most recently the clean car programme have all influenced consumer tastes.”

Mazda introduced utes to its New Zealand range in 1966 with the B-Series, which was later badged as the Bounty before being given a facelift and renamed the BT-50 in 2006.

The BT-50 will continue to be sold in other markets, including Australia and Thailand.