Production of Mazda2 begins in Mexico

Mazda Motor Corporation today announced that production of the all-new Mazda2 has begun at Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation (MMVO), the company's new plant in Mexico.

Additionally, MMVO's engine machining plant, under construction since last year, has been completed and the plant began operating on October 21, 2014.

Mazda products featuring SKYACTIV technology are enjoying strong sales globally and in response to growing demand the company will increase production capacity at MMVO to 250,000 units a year by the financial year ending March 2016.

In recent years, Mazda has introduced a series of vehicles featuring innovative SKYACTIV technology and the company expects SKYACTIV models to account for 85 percent of global sales by fiscal year ending March 2016.

Additionally, the automaker is working to establish a global production footprint, one of four key initiatives laid out in the Structural Reform Plan announced in February, 2012.

The start of production of Mazda2 (Demio in Japan at MMVO, start of operations at the engine machining plant, and planned production capacity increase represent major steps forward in both of the above initiatives. The plant at Salamanca in Mexico came on stream in 2014 when production of Mazda3 began. The plant is expected to add a third model - in 2015 it will add production of a segment B vehicle for Toyota based on Mazda2. These three models could take production to the 273,000 mark by 2020, according to sources.

MMVO's engine machining plant adopts the same advanced production technologies as Mazda's Hiroshima Plant, ensuring an engine parts processing line that is both efficient and capable of producing a diverse range of products.

MMVO president Keishi Egawa said; "With the start of production of Mazda2, operations underway at the engine machining plant, and an increase in our annual production capacity, we now have an even stronger production framework capable of supplying global markets with SKYACTIV products of the same high quality level as those made in Japan. At the same time, we are pleased to be able to make a contribution to Mexico's further economic growth."

MMVO is Mazda's third global facility to begin manufacturing Mazda2 following on from the Hofu Plant in Japan, where production started in July, and Auto Alliance (Thailand) Co., Ltd., where production began in September.