Mazda Motor Corporation announced that the company began production of the Mazda CX-3 subcompact crossover SUV at Hofu Plant No.1 in Yamaguchi, Japan. The move strengthens the automaker’s supply system for SUV vehicles, demand for which continues to grow globally.
Hofu Plant becomes the third production facility to manufacture the CX-3, following Ujina Plant No.1 (in Hiroshima), where production began in December 2014, and AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co., Ltd., where production began in October last year.
Domestic production of the CX-3 has until now been confined to Ujina Plant No.1, which also produces the Mazda CX-5 and Mazda CX-9. Moving a portion of CX-3 production to Hofu enhances the company’s ability to supply these models and respond quickly and flexibly to growing demand for SUVs globally. Bringing CX-3 production online at Hofu went smoothly thanks to Mazda’s Bundled Product Planning and Common Architecture Concept, key components of the company’s Monotsukuri Innovation initiatives in product planning and production.
Mazda is aiming to create a flexible production system capable of producing up to 50 percent crossover vehicles as the company works to meet its global sales goal of 1.65 million units, as laid out in its Structural Reform Stage 2 medium-term business plan.
