HUNTSVILLE, Alabama — Mazda Toyota Manufacturing this week marked the start of mass production of the all-new Mazda CX-50 sport utility at the joint venture assembly plant in Alabama with cheers from the plant’s workforce.
The launch ceremony featured guests and high-ranking Mazda executives, including Mazda North American Operations President and CEO Jeff Guyton.
MTM said the all-new, Alabama-built CX-50 is made for the North American market, particularly to support the active and outdoor lifestyles of customers.
“Our team members have knocked this out of the park,” said Janette Hostettler, MTM’s vice president of production. “They are working at the only automotive plant in the world that builds two brand new vehicles on two separate lines. To say I’m proud of what they’ve accomplished would be an understatement.”
The CX-50 joins the Toyota Corolla Cross, also an all-new model, on the production lineup at the $2.3 billion MTM facility in Huntsville. Mass production of the Corolla Cross began in September.
The Mazda CX-50 will be available in dealerships in spring 2022.
“The CX-50 is purpose-built for the North American driver,” said Mark Brazeal, vice president of administration at the Huntsville facility. “And every CX-50 will be assembled right here, in North Alabama by our MTM team members.”
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing invited guests and Team ONE partners, like @MazdaUSA President and CEO Jeff Guyton, to see our Start of Production of the all-new CX-50. We are proud to celebrate this huge moment in MTM history.#DriveYourFuture pic.twitter.com/oM87lvKD3T
— mazda_toyota (@mazda_toyota) January 26, 2022
HIRING PUSH
As it begins to ramp up production, MTM will add a second shift this year and aims to hire up to 1,200 additional team members for its workforce, which will ultimately reach around 4,000 once the plant is in full production. Apply for a job.
MTM expects to produce up to 300,000 vehicles annually.
“The first Mazda CX-50 models rolling down the assembly line at MTM, following on the heels of the debut of Toyota’s Corolla Cross just months ago, means that five different automakers are today building world-class vehicles in Alabama,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.
“This is a major milestone worth celebrating, and I know that more exciting developments are full speed ahead for our auto sector.”
Secretary Canfield said MTM is already beginning to add heft to the state’s growing auto manufacturing industry, which will soon have the capacity to produce around 1.3 million vehicles annually.
“The groundbreaking collaboration between Mazda and Toyota is driving significant additional growth in Alabama’s dynamic auto sector, which has established itself as a powerhouse within this global industry,” he said.
The production launch of Mazda’s CX-50 is one of several key developments expected within Alabama’s auto industry during 2022.
(Courtesy of Made in Alabama)
