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Toyota-Mazda joint US plant shown to media

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09 Jul 2022 12:07:02 GMT9
09 Jul 2022 12:07:02 GMT9

HUNTSVILLE (Alabama): Japanese automakers Toyota Motor Corp. and Mazda Motor Corp. showed their joint plant in Huntsville, Alabama, to the media Thursday.

The factory, which launched operations last autumn, currently manufactures SUVs, which are popular in the United States.

With the two companies focusing on environmental conservation, the plant is slated to kick off hybrid vehicle production within the next few years.

Masashi Aihara, executive officer at Mazda and head of the Toyota-Mazda joint venture operating the plant, said that the two firms have brought their technologies, knowledge and philosophies to the factory.

While the plant faces issues stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic, such as intense competition to secure human resources and supply chain disruptions, Aihara said that its staff will work as one to overcome these challenges.

The plant launched production of Toyota’s Corolla Cross crossover SUV in September last year and Mazda’s CX-50 crossover SUV in January this year.

The factory is aiming to manufacture 150,000 units of each model a year while planning to start making hybrid versions of the two models within a few years.

Investment in the Alabama plant has so far totaled around 2.3 billion dollars.

The number of workers at the factory will be increased to around 4,000 by the end of this year from the current level of some 3,200.

JIJI Press

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