Expansion Management

Mazda Building Transmission Plant in Thailand

Feb. 1, 2013

Company expanding global footprint to reach goal of 1.7 million cars sold by 2016.

Mazda Motor Corp. (IW 1000/146) announced on Thursday that it will build a transmission plant with an annual production capacity of approximately 400,000 units in the Chonburi Province of Thailand.

The company will invest 26 billion yen (US$ 281 million) Mazda due to increasing demand for models featuring SkyActiv Technology.

The overall company goal is to strengthen its global production footprint. "Mazda is establishing global production footprints in order to achieve our goal of annual global sales volume of 1.7 million units by fiscal year ending March 2016,” said CEO Takashi Yamanouchi.

The new transmission plant will be located north of Mazda's joint venture production facility, AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co., Ltd. (AAT) and will supply SlyActiv -Drive automatic transmissions for models produced at AAT as well as other Mazda vehicle production facilities globally.

“The Nakanoseki district of Hofu Plant will remain the chief production facility for transmissions, but we have decided to establish a second major transmission plant in Thailand's Chonburi Province,”Yamanouchi said.

Operations at the new plant will begin in the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2016.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Follow Me on Twitter: @ASelkoIW

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies. Previously Adrienne was in corporate communications at a medical manufacturing company as well as a large regional bank. She is the author of Do I Have to Wear Garlic Around My Neck? which made the Cleveland Plain Dealer's best sellers list. She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.