Mazda Motor will, from November, produce the redesigned CX-5 crossover at its Hofu Plant in Yamaguchi as well as Hiroshima where it is currently built.
The move will help the automaker respond quickly and flexibly to growing demand for SUVs globally, Mazda said in a statement.
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Mazda plans to create a production system that can respond flexibly to changes in demand for crossover vehicles as it works to meet its global sales goal of 1.65m units, as laid out in its medium-term business plan covering the period from fiscal year ending 31 March 2017 to 31 March 2019.
Last December, the company also began producing the CX-3 crossover at Hofu in addition to Hiroshima.
Launched in Japan in February, the fully revamped CX-5 sold 16,639 units in its first month, about seven times the monthly target, though volume well exceeding the goal is not uncommon for a launch month in that market.
"As with the CX-3, starting production of the CX-5 at Hofu Plant as well is part of our plan to build a production framework that gives us more flexibility between plants and between models," said Masatoshi Maruyama, managing executive officer in charge of global production. "We will do everything we can to get customers the crossover vehicles they want as quickly as possible."
