Mazda reaffirms partnership with Ford

Mazda Motor Corp. reaffirmed its partnership with ailing Ford Motor Co. today in announcing a target for global sales of 1.6 million vehicles per year by fiscal 2010. Mazda, which has been one bright spot in Ford’s recent dismal business, said it saw the alliance with Ford as “a win-win partnership." Ford owns 33.9 percent of Mazda. Mazda said it will aim for more than 200 billion yen operating profit in fiscal 2010. That’s up by about 63% from its operating profit in the latest fiscal year, which ended March 2006.