Mazda is mulling production of more models in China in a bid to enrich its product line-up, the Beijing News reported, citing Takashi Yamanouchi, president and CEO of Mazda (China) Enterprise Management.
After Ford announced earlier this month it will cut its stake in Mazda to 3.5% from 11%, the Japanese automaker’s two Chinese partners-FAW Car and Changan Auto have also made some moves, gasgoo.com noted.
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FAW Mazda, which has been building only one Mazda model, the 6 Ruiyi for years, has now started making the 8 at its plant in Changchun, capital of Jilin province. The 8 is Mazda’s large MPV model, till now sold only in Japan and Hong Kong.
Mazda imports a number of models into China and will consider local production of more, Yamanouchi said at the 8’s line-off ceremony.
The cooperation of Mazda and FAW is for high end models while that with Changan Auto is on introduction of the mid- and small-sized models, Yamanouchi said, adding that this will not change in the long term.
Other local reports said the new 5 minivan and 2 were being considered – an older version of the 5 called Premacy is already made in China.
