The ground breaking joint venture between Mazda Motor Corporation of Japan and Bermaz Motor of Malaysia – Mazda Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MMSB) – has reached a historic milestone with the company’s first export of completely built up (CBU) vehicles to Thailand.
The Mazda model going from Malaysia to Thailand is the Mazda CX-5, the highly successful, high-efficient crossover SUV. And the model line-up to be exported is extensive, a testimony to the capability of the Malaysian operations. The models include the gasoline-powered SKTACTIV -G 2.0L and 2.5L versions of the Mazda CX-5 as well as the ultra-high-efficient 2.2L Diesel SKYACTIV-D 2.2L
Mazda Malaysia Sdn Bhd (MMSB) is a joint venture company between Mazda Motor Corporation of Japan and Bermaz Motor, for the purpose of the production and distribution of Mazda vehicles, tapping into the regional business and industrial environment of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA) and the Malaysian National Automotive Policy (NAP).
The joint venture enjoys the full support of MAI (Malaysian Automotive Institute), with the objective of creating and manufacturing eco-friendly, fuel-efficient vehicles in Malaysia. The Mazda CX-5 is at the leading edge of such vehicles, while still retaining conventional powertrains – a testimony to the engineering prowess of the Hiroshima-based car manufacturer.
The advancements in technologies extend to manufacturing. Significant investments by Mazda Motor Corporation of Japan into the Malaysian car plant, Inokom, including dedicated lines and body shops, plus the transfer of technology ensure the production of cars with equivalent quality and standard as those produced in Japan.
Thailand is the first of the markets in ASEAN and the region for these Malaysian-made Mazda vehicles. The investment in the Inokom plant is geared to produce the volume to cater to the increasing demand for the highly regarded CX-5.
The Mazda CX-5 is a completely new model that represents Mazda’s solution to the challenge of producing cars that deliver pleasing driving dynamics along with environmental sustainability, outstanding safety and energy efficient with low emission. The total sales of CX-5 in global market has exceeded 300,000 units since the launch and the Japan Car of the Year 2012 was given to the model.
The CX-5 is the first next-generation Mazda model to adopt the full range of the brand’s newly developed SKYACTIv TECHNOLOGY – re-engineered engines, transmissions, bodies and chassis, and is the first Mazda to embody the all-new “KODO – Soul of Motion” design theme.
