Mazda Motor Corporation announced today that it is opening a new production facility in Mexico, and a sales company in Brazil, both in collaboration with Sumitomo. The Japanese manufacture proceeded with these moves in order to strengthen its presence in the rapidly growing Central and South American markets.
The Mexican plant, which is located in the city of Salamanca some 250 kilometers northwest of Mexico City, will produce the Mazda2 and Mazda3 models. The investment will reach $500 million, split 70% – 30% between Mazda and Sumitomo respectively, and once it reaches full capacity, will employ around 3,000 workers. It is expected to begin operations in the fiscal year of 2013 (April 2013 to March 2014), and its annual production will reach 140,000 units.
Mazda and Sumitomo will also open a new sales company in Sao Paulo, Brazil, named Mazda Motor do Brasil Limitada, with the investment once again being split 70% – 30% between the two companies.
Brazil is the world’s fourth largest market, behind China, the USA and Japan, with annual demand for new cars having doubled between 2005 and 2010 to 3.5 million units. It will initially sell cars imported from Japan and, once it becomes operational, from the aforementioned plant in Mexico.
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