Production of the all-new Mazda2 has begun at the company's new plant in Mexico, according to a company statement. Along with the start of vehicle production, the engine machining plant has been completed and began operating on Tuesday (21 October). The engine plant uses the same advanced production technologies as at Mazda's Hiroshima plant. The Mexican plant is Mazda's third to build the Mazda2, after the Hofu plant in Japan and AutoAlliance in Thailand. MMVO president Keishi Egawa said: "With the start of production of the all-new Mazda2, operations under way at the engine machining plant, and an increase in our annual production capacity, we now have an even stronger production framework capable of supplying global markets with SKYACTIV products of the same high quality level as those made in Japan. At the same time, we are pleased to be able to make a contribution to Mexico's further economic growth." The company is targeting production expansion to 250,000 units per annum (upa) by the fiscal year ending March 2016.
Significance: Mazda's Salamanca, Mexico, plant came online in 2014, building the Mazda3. The Mazda2 is the second of three vehicles set to be built at the facility, as Mazda will add production of a B-segment vehicle for Toyota, based on the Mazda2, in 2015 and Mexico. By 2020, IHS Automotive forecasts that the plant's output will exceed 273,000 upa.
