Mazda3 Production Starts At New Mexican Plant

Hiroshima, Japan, Jan 7, 2014; Mazda Motor Corporation today announced that production has begun at its new plant in Mexico. The plant, named Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation* (MMVO), is located in Salamanca, in the state of Guanajuato. The first model produced was a Mazda3 sedan (known as Axela in Japan) for the USA.

Regarding the commencement of production, Mazda's Managing Executive Officer in charge of New Emerging Market Operation (Latin America) and President and CEO of Mazda Motor Manufacturing de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. (Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation), Keishi Egawa said, "We have sent over 150 engineers and supervisors to Mazda's plants in Hiroshima and Hofu, and made every effort to ensure that we are manufacturing products of the highest quality here at MMVO. With the start of mass production, we now have a system capable of offering vehicles of the same high quality as those made in Japan, on a global scale, and that is extremely gratifying. We are committed to continue our efforts to contribute to the growth of Mexico's economy through the production of vehicles and the development of the excellent human resources who support and lead the automobile industry here."

Mazda has sold approximately 180,000 vehicles in Mexico since it entered the market in 2005. The brand is highly regarded, and in 2013 sold a record 33,000 units in the country. In addition to the USA, MMVO will produce the Mazda3 for other countries in the Americas and for Europe. Moving forward, Mazda intends to strengthen its production system in Mexico and expand the production model line-up to include the Mazda2 (Demio in Japan).

Mazda in Mexico

2005

Entered the Mexican market

2011

Sep: Established MMVO, a joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation Oct: Groundbreaking ceremony for MMVO

2012

Sep: Seita Kanai, then Mazda's Representative Director and Executive Vice President made Honorary Consul of the United Mexican States in Hiroshima

2013

Jan: Announced plan to increase production capacity at MMVO to 230,000 units annually in fiscal year ending March 2016 Apr: Takashi Yamanouchi, then Mazda's Representative Director and Chairman of the Board, President and CEO, awarded the Order of the Aztec Eagle

2014

Jan: Production begins Oct: Operations scheduled to begin at engine machining factory

* Trade name of Mazda Motor Manufacturing de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. and Mazda Motor Operaciones de Mexico, S.A. de C.V. collectively. About Mazda

Mazda Motor Corporation started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.com.