- Japanese automaker Mazda said it will build the successor to the midsize Mazda 6 sedan in Japan, rather than in Michigan.
- Mazda expects to pull out of its joint venture with Ford in Flat Rock, Michigan, once current Mazda 6 production ends in 2013.
- Mazda also is considering whether to build a new plant for smaller cars in Mexico.
HIROSHIMA, Japan — Mazda said it will build the successor to the midsize Mazda 6 sedan — due in 2013 — in Japan, rather than in Michigan, and is working with joint-venture partner Ford to "identify potential future opportunities" for the underused Flat Rock plant south of Detroit.
Mazda's announcement had been anticipated for months. Production of the Mazda 6 at Flat Rock — the car is also built in China and Japan — has dwindled as Mazda 6 sales in the U.S. continue to fall.
Last year, the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock built about 36,000 Mazda 6 sedans. This year, Mazda 6 sales are down another 9 percent through May.
In a statement released Monday in Japan, Mazda said: "Our intention is to transfer production of our next CD-car for North America from AAI and consolidate it at Hofu in order to improve production and investment efficiencies and optimize our business.? The decision was made after carefully assessing all risks and opportunities, including global needs, changing demand in North America and exchange-rate exposure."
Mazda said the current Mazda 6, which is marketed in Japan as the Mazda Atenza, will continue in production at Flat Rock "until the end of its cycle plan," which insiders say is 2013.
Mazda began construction of the Flat Rock plant in 1985, launching production in 1987. In 1992, Ford became a partner in the plant, which also builds the Ford Mustang.
Inside Line says: Never intended as a mainstream product, the Mazda 6 has never come close to matching the widespread appeal or sales of such Japanese competitors as the Honda Accord and Toyota Camry.
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atenza94546 says:
11:56 AM, 06/08/2011
The GH is a revised version of the GG and Ford are still using the GH as their CD3 platfom. The only now its awise choice because it doesn't matter if the platform is from Ford or Mazda. Both cars has some good ride quality in it. However, I do like the new Fusion over the new Mazda 6.
The design and the over all value just can't keep up with others. I still like the 2003 version Mazda 6 !!
aviboy97 says:
09:34 AM, 06/08/2011
exinobel102 says:
08:59 AM, 06/08/2011
Oh and street_king1, the current Ford fusion actually sits on the old Mazda6 platform and uses a ford duratec engine, not the mazda MZR engine. The current American version of the 6 shares it's platform with the current Volvo S60, back from the days of Ford Owning part of Mazda and volvo.
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Not entirely accurate.
The Mazda6 is on Mazda's GG/GY platform, of which Ford adopted and renamed the CD3, IIRC. The current Mazda6 is still on the GG platform, not a Volvo platform.
The first gen Ford Fusion was a mechanical copy to the Mazda6, with some minor differences. Ford saved $10B in R & D by taking the Mazda6 and creating a Ford Fusion.
The current models are now more mile distant cousins. There are many mechanical differences, although they share the same 2.5L engine.
exinobel102 says:
08:59 AM, 06/08/2011
Although nice and a very competative model in the midsize segment, the current MAzda 6 lost part of its flare from it's previous incarnation. Don't get me wrong, i'll take one over a Carmy or Accord anyday tough. Hopefully they'll switch to a global design. The Japanese ATenza which is the MAzda6 equivalence overseas is one nice car. Hopefully we'll get somethingn along that line, but then again American's like their midsize cars supersized so let's see what happens.
Oh and street_king1, the current Ford fusion actually sits on the old Mazda6 platform and uses a ford duratec engine, not the mazda MZR engine. The current American version of the 6 shares it's platform with the current Volvo S60, back from the days of Ford Owning part of Mazda and volvo.
aviboy97 says:
06:28 AM, 06/08/2011
Considering that the Mazda6 is build by UAW workers factored with the operating costs of running the plant, Mazda will most likley save money by moving production to Japan.
If Mazda were to have a mega-plant here in the U.S., like Hyundai has in Alabama, to produce several vehicles, not just one, then it would make sense to stay here. Building 36,000 units cannot be profitable in a stand along plant in which Mazda owns 50% of....
northsparrow says:
05:49 AM, 06/08/2011
Here's the better idea for Flat Rock.
How about a small RWD sedan with IRL but otherwise sharing underpinnings with the Mustang.
It could be built on the same assembly lines the 'Stang is currently built on.
northsparrow says:
04:39 AM, 06/08/2011
We have recently seen a series of articles about Japanese companies wanting to move more production
out of Japan to counter the effects of currency fluctuation. Mazda seems to want to do the opposite.
Let's watch this space to see if Mazda announces a new plant with our partners in free trade down in Mexico just after they pull out of the USA.
As for the workers in Flat Rock, I hope Ford has a better idea to keep production numbers up at your plant.
shouldermonkey says:
08:19 PM, 06/07/2011
Good! Japanese cars should be built in Japan, American in America (by that I mean U.S.A., not Canada or Mexico), etc.
street_king1 says:
07:26 PM, 06/07/2011
They are going to develop a brand new Mazda6 on a completely different platform. The current Mazda6 shares its platform and engine with the Ford Fusion, but it still performs really well.
mazdamzr7 says:
07:24 PM, 06/07/2011
Unfortunately, I can see why 6 sales have slipped away owning two of them myself. I regret trading my first generation 6 for a 2010 6i sport with the 6 speed manual and 2.5. The car just lacks the "poor mans sports sedan" persona that the first sedan coined so well. I hope 2013 will bring the world market 6 back to the US, because I am simply not satisfied with my 2nd generation and considering taking a loss on it to trade for something more fun to drive like a 3 hatchback.
93aero says:
07:06 PM, 06/07/2011
It was the best looking car in the bunch. But i can see from an economic stand point that Japan would want some jobs back.