Mazda on Thursday said it would hike the annual output of its mainstay 1.8- to 2.3-litre MZR engines to 705,000 units in January from the current 650,000 units at its Hiroshima Prefecture plant to meet brisk car demand in major markets of the world.
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According to Kyodo News, the carmaker said the decision was made in view of strong sales in particular of the Mazda 3 and the MX-5 roadster in Europe and North America. The company is also increasing engine production also because of the scheduled release of the CX-7 SUV crossover in the United States next spring and the redesigned MPV in Japan in February.
The engine, which was first rolled out this May when the updated 6 car hit the market, now powers roughly 75% of all Mazda vehicles made in Japan, the news agency noted.
