Mazda Begins Construction of Mexican Production Facility

More and more car manufacturers are setting up production plants in South America, maybe because the work force is cheaper or just because it’s closer to America and save them transit costs, or both! Mazda decided to build their new facility which will be used to make new MAzda3 and Mazda2 models in Mexico. Owned by Mazda Motor Corporation and Sumitomo Corporation, the joint venture facility is named Mazda Motor Manufacturing de Mexico S.A. de C.V. (MMMdM) and is located in the city of Salamanca, in the state of Guanajuato. In the opening ceremony some high profile brass were preset, including Mr. Bruno Ferrari, Minister of Economy of Mexico in representation of Mexico’s President Felipe Calderon. Mazda press release: The ceremony was hosted by Mazda Motor Corporation’s Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, Takashi Yamanouchi, and Sumitomo’s Executive Vice President, Kazuo Ohmori, on the site where the plant will be built. Attending dignitaries included the Guanajuato State Governor, Juan Manuel Oliva, the Mayor of Salamanca, Antonio Ramirez, the General Director of ProMe?xico, Carlos Guzma?n, the President of the Economic Commission of the State Congress, Alejandro Rangel, and Japan’s Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Mexico, Shuichiro Megata. In total, approximately 400 people attended the ceremony. “Since Mazda established its sales network in Mexico six years ago, we have experienced a remarkable acceptance from the people of Mexico. Last year Mazda sold over twenty-five thousand vehicles and captured over three percent market share,” said Mazda’s President Yamanouchi. “We are excited to be constructing this new facility here in Mexico with our partner Sumitomo Corporation. It will be vital to bolstering our expansion in Central and South America.” Sumitomo’s Executive Vice President Ohmori said, “The state of Guanajuato and the Sumitomo Group have a lot in common. Both were established over 400 years ago and developed through a history of mining. We also share the value of respect for people and the desire to contribute to society and grow together with our partners. By integrating our strengths with those of our strategic partner Mazda Motor Corporation, and those of Mexico and of Japan, I believe our joint venture will grow to become world-class, and will help us to contribute to the development of both countries.” Through the new manufacturing facility, Mazda and Sumitomo intend to combine their individual strengths in order to enhance both companies’ business in the rapidly growing Central and South American markets. The new facility will include both vehicle and engine assembly plants and will commence operations in the fiscal year ending March 2014 with an annual production capacity of 140,000 units. It will produce Mazda2 (Mazda Demio in Japan) and Mazda3 (Mazda Axela in Japan) models.