Japanese automaker Mazda Motor has strengthened its collaboration with Nippon Steel, applying the partnership’s work to the new version of MAZDA CX-5 crossover SUV unveiled in July.
The co‑creation allowed them to develop an optimal body structure within a reduced timeframe.
Nippon Steel executive vice president and representative director Takashi Hirose said: "Through its co-creation activities with Mazda, Nippon Steel is promoting collaboration not only in the development of steel products, but also in a wide range of areas including design, processing, and mass production processes.”
Nippon Steel was involved from the early stages of development, enabling a reassessment of design, production and procurement across the supply and value chain.
Mazda incorporated Nippon Steel’s NSafe‑AutoConcept ECO³ (NSAC ECO³) and combined its own model‑based development methods with Nippon Steel’s analysis technologies and construction techniques.
The firms report 10% lesser steel weight for the new CX‑5 versus the previous model while maintaining body performance measures such as rigidity and collision safety.
The firms also collaborated on steel sheet materials selection early in development and chose a Nippon Steel sheet plant located near assembly facility of Mazda.
That decision is reported to have simplified procurement, reduced transport-related costs and CO₂ emissions, lowered inventory in the supply chain, reduced geopolitical risk exposure and contributed to indirect production cost savings.
The partnership aligns with Mazda’s 2030 Management Policy, which prioritises cost reduction and supply‑chain reinforcement.
Mazda has outlined plans to tackle inefficiencies across the supply and value chain and to pursue long‑term co‑creation with selected suppliers to achieve rationalised manufacturing from the early development phase.
Mazda and Nippon Steel plan to broaden the collaboration to additional models with the aim of creating a resilient supply and value chain that can generate value and lessen costs across multiple vehicle lines.
Mazda director, senior managing executive officer, and chief supply chain officer Takeshi Mukai said: “Our aim is to continue contributing to the future of manufacturing in Japan.
“As part of the second phase of our 2030 Management Policy, we are targeting cost reductions of Y100bn yen and improvements in fixed cost efficiency of an additional Y100bn.”
Mazda reported a 1.7% year‑on‑year decline in global passenger vehicle production for August 2025, producing 84,754 units compared with 86,192 units in the same month of the previous year.
