Mazda Begins to Mass-Produce CX-50 SUV in U.S.

Tokyo, Jan. 27 (Jiji Press)--Japan's Mazda Motor Corp. <7261> said Thursday that it has started mass-producing the CX-50 crossover SUV, a new model developed for the North American market, at a new plant in Huntsville, Alabama. The U.S. plant is jointly owned by Japanese auto giant Toyota Motor Corp. <7203>. Toyota began to manufacture vehicles at the plant last autumn. Mazda plans to roll out 150,000 vehicles annually from the Alabama plant. Toyota aims to make as many Corolla Cross crossover SUVs there a year. The number of workers at the factory will be increased to around 4,000 by the end of this year from some 2,800 at present. Mazda plans to release a total of five new SUV models, including the CX-50, this year and next. END