Mazda plans to increase the production capacity of its engine assembly plant in Thailand next year to 122,000 units a year from 30,000 units at a cost of ¥22.1 billion ($213.7 million).
The automaker also will build a new engine machining factory with production capacity similar to that of the engine assembly plant.
The assembly plant, which began full-scale production in October 2015, produces Skyactiv-D 1.5L diesel engines and Skyactiv-G 1.3L gasoline engines, which are shipped to Auto Alliance Thailand for the Mazda2.
Mazda says the new engine machining plant will enhance its system for comprehensive production in Thailand that includes vehicle bodies, engines and transmissions.
The Skyactiv-G 2.0L will be added to the engines produced, and Mazda says it will begin exporting engines to vehicle production sites in Malaysia and Vietnam.
Masatoshi Maruyama, Mazda’s managing executive officer in charge of global production, says enhancing Mazda operations in Thailand is a key initiative in the company’s effort to strengthen global output.
“By increasing production capacity and starting up the new engine machining factory as scheduled with quality assured, Mazda intends to further develop Mazda Powertrain Mfg. (Thailand) Co. Ltd. as its first overseas hub for engine export, thereby improving our global production efficiency and contributing to the development of Thailand’s automotive industry,” he says.
