Despite the economic downturn Mazda has recorded its best ever monthly sales figure in the UK.

The company also continued to increase its market share month on month, and with forecast sales for September reaching 11,135, it now enjoys a passenger car market share of 2.9% and a retail market share of 3.8%.

Jeremy Thomson, Mazda UK managing director said the company's retail share, which is the true test of a manufacturers popularity, has grow over the last twelve months.

He went on to explain the company had increased its share of a declining market but in the last couple of months volume has also been returning.

According to Thomson, the most popular model was the Mazda2 with 4,710 sales, followed by Mazda3 with 2,466 sales.

He added that the scrappage scheme has been an added bonus, but it has not been the defining aspect of the company's increase in new car sales.  Just 25% of new Mazda sales in September have been attributed to the scrappage scheme.

Under the recently extended scrappage scheme, motorists receive £2,000 off the cost of a new car when they trade in a vehicle that is more than 10 years old. Half of the cost is met by the Government, the other half by the new car manufacturer.