Mazda to use Thailand as global production base
Japanese car maker Mazda Motor Corporation is set to deploy its Thai factory as the group's second global production base, mainly for pickup trucks and eco-cars. The comprehensive new facility, designed to make not only vehicles but also transmissions and engines, similar to their factory in Japan, is almost complete. The production facility in Chon Buri will produce engines with an annual capacity of 200,000 units and transmissions (400,000 units) and is scheduled to start operation next year. The company plans to use the Thai factory as the global blueprint, with 60% of production serving the domestic market and the rest for export.
Mazda now operates a factory as a joint venture with US Ford Motor Company called AutoAlliance (AAT) in Rayong's Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate. Founded in 1995, the facility has an annual production capacity of 140,000 one-tonne pickup trucks and 100,000 passenger cars. Ford recently moved its passenger-car production line to its wholly owned manufacturing facility in Rayong with its pickup truck production line remaining at AAT. Mazda last month officially kicked off its local Mazda2 eco-car production, with a combined investment of 12.6 billion baht.