Mazda Commences Engine Production in Thailand

Kuala Lumpur: Mazda, the renowned Japanese automaker has now stepped up for establishing a recently developed plant at Chonburi location which is in the province of Thailand.

The engines will be produced by Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing Plant (MPMT) and ceremony was held by the Japanese automaker to improve the production initiation. Approximately 400 people attended this event, including MPMT President and CEO Hidenori Kawakami and Mazda's Managing Executive Officers Kiyotaka Shobuda and Kazuhisa Fujikawa.

MPMT is Mazda's first transmission plant outside Japan. The plant, which started production in January, is the result of a 100% Baht 7.3-billion investment by Mazda Motor Corp, and churns out 400,000 SkyActiv-Drive transmission sets annually. The 2 Sky Activ-D model has been equipped with Sky Activ- D 1.5 litre diesel engines owing to which the plant is capable of producing 30,000 engines a year. With regards to the Thai govt.'s eco car programme (which applies preferential taxation to fuel efficient, low-emission vehicles), the plant is in its 2nd phase as reported by Mazda.

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Kiyotaka Shobuda (Managing Executive at Mazda) quoted that “Thailand is our most important production location outside Japan; our first overseas base capable of comprehensive vehicle manufacture, including engine and transmission production as well as vehicle assembly.”

Mazda furthermore produces automatic transmissions with the identical provision apart from engines, which is placed following its another plant in Hofu, Japan. SkyActiv engine production base counts to be fourth in number. Prior to which Hiroshima plant, Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation plant in Mexico & Changan Ford Mazda Engine plant in China came into sight.

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As per February 2012 declaration: The establishment of a global production footprint has been one of the key measures of Mazda’s Structural Reform Plan. The company has been making substantial progression in this aspect and the initiation of transmission production at MPMT marked another significant milestone. Additionally, Mazda will pioneer in vehicles equipped with Skyactiv Technology according to the schedule and will anticipate Skyactiv models to account for over 85% of sales by the fiscal year ending March 2016.

This brand continues its endeavours to enrich people's lives through diversified touch points, together with the production of high-quality cars, progressively to become a brand with which customers would feel a strong emotional connect.