Mazda Parts-Distribution Hub to Serve Export Markets

Mazda is making Thailand its spare-parts distribution hub for both ASEAN and global exports, opening a parts-distribution center in Samut Prakan, 22 miles (36 km) southwest of Bangkok.

The center operated by Mazda Logistics and Yusen (Asia), a joint venture between Mazda Sales Thailand and Yusen Logistics Thailand, stocks up to 53,000 Mazda parts worth more than TB360 million ($10.7 million).

It has about 260 suppliers.

Mazda Sales Thailand President Hidesuke Takesue says the automaker’s parts management in the region previously was handled by a business partner, and the company lagged behind its rivals.

“The new parts distribution center will dramatically help us improve our parts-management system, since we can fully control all of our operation on our own,” Takesue tells The Nation newspaper.

“Thailand and other ASEAN countries have high potential for economic growth, and this is the largest market for Mazda to grow our business.”

Mazda’s Thai operations last year sold spare parts worth TB1.7 billion ($50.7 million) on the domestic market and exported another TB800 million ($23.8 million) worth to more than 100 countries.

Mazda has opened a TB11 billion ($328.2 million) transmission plant in Chon Buri, 55 miles (87 km) southwest of Bangkok to produce 400,000 Skyactiv gearboxes a year and will complete construction of its first engine plant in Thailand by the fourth quarter.

Takesue tells the newspaper exports of Mazda spare parts now are incorporated into its vehicle exports, resulting in lower operating costs.

“There is also more pricing competitiveness, because we have combined our spare-parts export business with our export operation from the AutoAlliance Thailand plant to share costs,” he says.