Ford and Mazda Inaugurate New US$500 Million Passenger Car Plant at AutoAlliance Thailand

State-of-the-art manufacturing technologies will be used to produce new Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta for domestic and export markets Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation today celebrated the official opening of a new US$500 million passenger car plant at their joint-venture manufacturing facility, AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT). The inauguration represents the culmination of an additional investment and expansion program of this global manufacturing hub, which was announced in 2007. To celebrate the new plant's opening, Thailand's Crown Princess, HRH Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, was joined by U.S. Ambassador, Eric John, Japan Ambassador, Kyoji Komachi, and senior executives from Ford, Mazda and AAT in a formal ceremony at the new state-of-the-art facility in Rayong's Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate. The completed expansion increases the total annual production capacity at AAT to 275,000 units. The new passenger car facility will produce the Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta compact cars for sale in Thailand, and export throughout the ASEAN region, as well as Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. AAT already exports Ford and Mazda pickup trucks to more than 130 markets around the world. “The completion of this investment underscores the significance of AAT for our regional operations and its strategic role as a global manufacturing and export hub,” said David Alden, president, Ford ASEAN. “The ASEAN region is a critical component of our overall growth strategy in Asia, and the further diversification of products manufactured at AAT will be a fundamental driver of this growth.” The completion of this new investment increases Ford and Mazda's total joint investment in the vast AAT facility to more than US$1.5 billion since 1995. “The new passenger car plant at AutoAlliance Thailand will play an important role as a production base in Mazda’s global strategy. The new plant employs the industry's latest flexible manufacturing technologies, ensuring world-class quality, safety and environmental friendliness," said Masaharu Yamaki, executive vice president, Mazda Motor Corporation. "AAT continues to be a global success story in terms of the superb cooperation between Mazda, Ford and AAT employees who constantly strive to achieve a shared vision of success. I have every confidence this teamwork will enable us to overcome the current market challenges and lead us to further business growth,” added Yamaki. The new highly-flexible passenger car plant utilizes the latest auto manufacturing technologies, automated systems and process, and includes a new stamping line and body shop, trim and final process area. Warehouse storage has also been expanded to handle the increased production volume and a new cafeteria has been built. The completed paint shop can now accommodate both pickup trucks and passenger cars, and uses the world-class and environmentally-friendly Three Layer Wet Paint System, which dramatically reduces VOC and CO2 emissions and waste, and improves painting quality. “The completion of the new AAT passenger car plant represents a tremendous achievement that is shared by all of our stakeholders – Ford, Mazda, the Thai government, and in particular, the Board of Investment, our suppliers, and certainly our dedicated AAT employees,” said Kiyotaka Shobuda, president of AutoAlliance Thailand. AAT is already one of the largest and most modern automotive manufacturing facilities in Southeast Asia, and has helped set standards for auto manufacturing in the ASEAN region through an ongoing commitment to world-class quality, standards and procedures. “The world-class passenger cars we'll produce will further solidify AAT's continued role in both Ford and Mazda's global strategy, and supports the further expansion and growth of Thailand's auto industry and its leading role in the ASEAN region as a global automotive production hub,” added Shobuda. Editors notes: In 1995, Ford and Mazda jointly identified Thailand as a strategic part of their investment and expansion plans in the Asia Pacific region, and laid the groundwork for AAT to establish Thailand as a global manufacturing hub to serve growing demands in both the domestic and export markets. Following its promotional privileges grant by the Board of Investment (BOI) the same year, AAT invested more than US$500 million to build Thailand's first state-of-the-art, integrated vehicle manufacturing plant. The AAT facility currently includes stamping; body construction; paint, engine, trim & final assembly; and CKD packing facilities; covering more than 529 rai of land in the Eastern Seaboard Industrial Estate in Rayong province. In addition to its production successes, AAT and its staff continue to be actively involved in the development of surrounding communities, participating in programs that range from donations for education supplies and equipment, to volunteering for disaster relief assistance and environmental preservation initiatives. Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 205,000 employees and about 90 plants worldwide, the company’s wholly owned brands include Ford, Lincoln, Mercury and Volvo. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com. Mazda Motor Corporation Established in 1920, Mazda Motor Corporation is headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan. Mazda is a global company supported by a following of admiring customers in more than 140 countries. Mazda’s international success is also founded on a global production network comprising two main plants in Japan and 14 overseas facilities. For more information about Mazda, please visit www.mazda.com AutoAlliance Thailand AutoAlliance Thailand Co., Ltd. (AAT) was established in November 1995 as a joint venture between Mazda Motor Corporation and Ford Motor Company to produce vehicles for both domestic and international export markets. Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation are equal equity partners in this jointly managed facility.

• ข่าวMazda Motor Corporation
• ข่าวAutoAlliance Thailand
• ข่าวFord Motor Company
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