TOKYO (Nikkei)--Mazda Motor Corp. will introduce its new Tribute sport-utility vehicle in the North American market in early August.

Other Japanese manufacturers like Nissan Motor Co. (7201) are recording double-digit growth in new-vehicle sales in North America, but Mazda saw a year-on-year gain of only 3.7% for the January-June period.

By introducing the Tribute and making other changes, the automaker hopes to raise North American sales to 281,000 units this year, up 15% from 1999.

The Tribute is the first vehicle to be jointly developed with top shareholder Ford Motor Co. It will be produced at the Ford plant in Kansas City, and the North American sales target is 4,000 to 5,000 units a month.

In addition, Mazda plans to introduce revamped models, including a new Millenia, from September.

The automaker also plans to overhaul its dealer network in the U.S. Mazda now has about 900 dealerships there, but about 80% also sell competing brands. It plans to reduce the total number of outlets by 40% by 2002, as well as boost the share of exclusive Mazda dealerships and collaborate with Ford dealerships.

(The Nikkei Industrial Daily Tuesday edition)