Mazda has announced that the company has began production of the Mazda CX-3 subcompact crossover SUV at the company’s Hofu Plant No.1 in Yamaguchi, Japan. The Hofu Plant becomes the 3rd production facility to manufacture the CX-3, following Ujina Plant No.1 (in Hiroshima), where production began in December 2014, and AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co., Ltd., where production began in October last year.
Domestic production of the CX-3 has until now been confined to Ujina Plant No.1, which also produces the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9. Moving a portion of CX-3 production to Hofu enhances the company’s ability to supply these models and respond quickly and flexibly to growing demand for SUVs globally.
Mazda is aiming to create a flexible production system capable of producing up to 50% crossover vehicles as the company works to meet its global sales goal of 1.65 million units, as laid out in its Structural Reform Stage 2 medium-term business plan (covering the period from fiscal year ending (FYE) March 2017 through FYE March 2019).
“We’re aiming for a production system that gives us more flexibility in terms of plants and models, so we can get our cars to customers around the world as quickly as possible,” said Masatoshi Maruyama, Managing Executive Officer in charge of global production. “Achieving this will help create a stronger foundation for our business.”
