Mazda Motor Corp. hopes to take a 3 percent share of China's auto market by achieving sales of 45,000 vehicles in 2003, according to the carmaker's marketing program released Tuesday.

Such sales figures would be almost double those of last year.

To achieve its goal, Mazda said it will increase the number of affiliated Chinese dealers to 85 this spring from 48 as of the end of last year.

Mazda has been producing its Premacy minivan and the Mazda323 sedan, called the Familia in Japan, in cooperation with FAW Hainan Motor Co., a unit of China's largest carmaker, First Auto Work Group Corp. FHC is located on the southern island of Hainan.

Beginning this spring, Mazda plans to produce its midsize model Mazda6 at an FAW Car Co. factory in Changchun, Jilin Province, and expand its vehicle lineup in China. The Mazda6 is called the Atenza in Japan.