Mazda, keen to reduce its reliance on building most of its cars in Japan where the high value of the Yen makes profitable exports marginal at best, has started talks with Bermaz Motors on joint venture production.
Bermaz, fully owned by local investors including Berjaya Corporation as its major shareholder, is Mazda’s regional sales company.
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The move follows Mazda signing a joint venture manufacturing agreement with Sollers of Russia in April while last month training began in Japan for staff at its new facility in Mexico which is due to come on stream before the end of the March 2014 fiscal year.
In Malaysia, Mazda began local assembly of the 3 last year; the new JV plans to begin local assembly of the CX-5 early in 2013 with a target of producing 3,000 a year.
“Mazda’s sales in Malaysia have shown consistent growth since we started doing business with Bermaz in 2008,” said president and CEO Takashi Yamanouchi.
“In the last financial year we achieved record sales results of approximately 6,000 units and 1% market share. Local assembly of the 3 started in January 2011 and is going well. Malaysia is one of our key strategic markets and we expect further growth there.
“Mazda will continue to focus on emerging markets to strengthen our overall business foundation.”
