According to Reuters, Mazda will host a press conference on Friday to announce its financial forecasts for the current business year as well as the construction of a new assembly plant in Mexico that will build compact cars, initially for sale in Mexico and South America, and eventually export to North America.
Hundreds of millions of dollars will likely be invested in the facility, which will break ground this fall and start production in the second half of 2013 with an initial capacity of at least 50,000 cars a year.
This will be the fourth overseas assembly site for the Japanese automaker after the United States, China and Thailand – all joint ventures with former top shareholder Ford Motor Company.
Last week, it was reported that Mazda6 production will be transferred to Japan from Flat Rock, MI (also the birthplace of the Mustang). The news surprised many people since Japanese automakers struggle to make profits as a result of a strong yen.
Various questions remain unanswered, though. For starters, will the popular Mazda3 move to Mexico or split production between two different sites? Will a new compact car join the brand's North American lineup? Could the new CX-5 crossover be built in Mexico to ease its entry on the Canadian and U.S. markets? And finally, how will this affect the Flat Rock plant and joint venture with Ford?
Hopefully, company executives will clear things up at tomorrow's press conference.
Source : Automotive News
 |
| Photo: Mazda |
Hundreds of millions of dollars will likely be invested in the facility, which will break ground this fall and start production in the second half of 2013 with an initial capacity of at least 50,000 cars a year.
This will be the fourth overseas assembly site for the Japanese automaker after the United States, China and Thailand – all joint ventures with former top shareholder Ford Motor Company.
Last week, it was reported that Mazda6 production will be transferred to Japan from Flat Rock, MI (also the birthplace of the Mustang). The news surprised many people since Japanese automakers struggle to make profits as a result of a strong yen.
Various questions remain unanswered, though. For starters, will the popular Mazda3 move to Mexico or split production between two different sites? Will a new compact car join the brand's North American lineup? Could the new CX-5 crossover be built in Mexico to ease its entry on the Canadian and U.S. markets? And finally, how will this affect the Flat Rock plant and joint venture with Ford?
Hopefully, company executives will clear things up at tomorrow's press conference.
Source : Automotive News