05 November 2012, Japan’s Mazda reports massive sales drop in one of the richest countries in the world; China.   Mazda sales dropped 35% in September, and 44.9% in October, compared to the same months in 2011.

Mazda officials are blaming the drop on a boycott of Japanese goods by Chinese consumers. This is because of Japan nationalizing an island (with plans for militarization) in the East China Sea.

Mazda has now cut its 2012 sales expectations in half.   The night shift at a car factory in Nanjing will be ended.  The Nanjing factory is a joint venture with U.S. Ford and China’s Changan Automobile.