Production at Mazda’s Hofu factory in Japan’s Yamaguchi prefecture has passed 10 million vehicles almost 31 years after the first model rolled off the line.
The 10 millionth car, a Mazda6, came off the final assembly line yesterday (27 August). If placed end-to-end, a line of 10m cars would stretch approximately 16,000 miles – all the way from Mazda’s headquarters in Hiroshima to London and back again.
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Masamichi Kogai, Mazda’s Representative Director, President and CEO, said: ”We see this fantastic achievement not as a destination, but rather as a milestone on our road to further growth.”
Full-scale production at Hofu Plant No 1 started in September 1982. The Hofu Plant No 2 began operating in February 1992 with a flexible-production capability for vehicle bodies and modular assembly systems on a mixed-model assembly line to best respond to changes in consumer demand.
The two plants manufacture Mazda’s two most popular models and have a combined annual production capacity of 482,100 units. Currently, Hofu Plant No 1 produces the all-new Mazda3 and Plant No 2 makes the Mazda6
History of Hofu Plant
Dec 1981:
Operations begin at Nakanoseki district transmission plant.
Sep 1982:
Full-scale vehicle production begins at Hofu Plant No. 1.
Apr 1986:
Vehicle production at Hofu Plant reaches one million units.
Feb 1992:
Vehicle production begins at Hofu Plant No. 2.
Jan 2002:
Vehicle production at Hofu Plant reaches five million units.
Feb 2002:
Production of first generation Mazda6 begins.
Jun 2003:
Production of first generation Mazda3 begins.
Aug 2007:
Production of second generation Mazda6 begins.
Nov 2008:
Production of second generation Mazda3 begins.
Dec 2010:
Transmission production at Hofu Plant reaches 30 million units.
Aug 2012:
Production of third generation Mazda6 begins.
Jun 2013:
Production of third generation Mazda3 begins.
Aug 2013:
Vehicle production at Hofu Plant reaches 10 million units.
