Mazda2 Subcompact To Hit U.S. in 2010

Today, Mazda’s CEO Jim O’Sullivan announced to dealers that the company would bring its global subcompact car, the Mazda2, to the U.S. It’s slated to go on sale in late 2010, and that’s about the same time the Ford Fiesta, which is based on the same platform as the Mazda 2, hits the streets.

The U.S. version — Japanese and European models can be seen here — will be unveiled at the Los Angeles auto show in December.

While Mazda certainly needs a less expensive car to slot below the Mazda3, we’re surprised it has taken the company so long to bring this car, which has been on sale in Japan since 2007, to the U.S. Perhaps Ford, which owns a stake in Mazda, didn’t want anything to overshadow the roll out of its much-hyped Fiesta.