Press Release
HIROSHIMA, Japan (July 3, 2012) – Mazda Motor Corporation today announced it will double production capacity at its engine plant in Hiroshima. Production volume will be increased from 400,000 units to 800,000 units per year in October 2012. The plant produces SKYACTIV-D diesel engines and SKYACTIV-G gasoline engines. The capacity increase is made in response to increasing demand for cars incorporating the company’s SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY1. It is made possible by Mazda’s continued pursuit of a highly efficient flexible production system using multipurpose equipment.
The SKYACTIV-G is a highly efficient, new-generation direct-injection gasoline engine. Mazda engineers overcame the problem of abnormal combustion, commonly known as “knocking”, to achieve the world’s highest compression ratio for a mass production gasoline engine for vehicles2. It is presently available in the Mazda Demio for the Japanese market, the Mazda Axela (known overseas as the Mazda3) for the North American and Australian market, and the Mazda CX-5, currently being launched in markets around the world. It will also be available in the next generation Mazda Atenza (known overseas as Mazda6) to be released later this year.
The SKYACTIV-D is a new-generation clean diesel engine that complies with global exhaust gas regulations without the need for a costly nitrogen oxide (NOx) aftertreatment system. It achieves the world’s lowest compression ratio for a mass production diesel engine for vehicles2. The first model to be equipped with the SKYACTIV-D is the Mazda CX-5 for the Japanese, European and Australian markets. It will also be available in the next generation Mazda Atenza/Mazda6 to be released later this year.
Mazda intends to sell 1,700,000 units globally in the fiscal year ending March 2016. Models employing SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY are expected to account for 80 percent of total sales.
History of Mazda’s SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY
2009 October: World debut of SKY CONCEPT at the 41st Tokyo Motor Show
2010 October: Announced outline of SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY
2011 June: Facelifted Mazda Demio featuring SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine launched in Japan
2011 September: Facelifted Mazda Axela featuring SKYACTIV-G and SKYACTIV-DRIVE transmission launched in Japan
2012 February: Mazda CX-5, the first in Mazda’s series of new products featuring the full range of SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY (SKYACTIV-G or SKYACTIV-D, SKYACTIV-DRIVE, SKYACTIV-CHASSIS and SKYACTIV-BODY)
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1 An umbrella term for Mazda’s new-generation technologies, including SKYACTIV-G gasoline engine, SKYACTIV-D diesel engine, SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission, high-performance light weight SKYACTIV-CHASSIS and lightweight and highly rigid SKYACTIV-BODY
2 As of June 2012 (Mazda data)
Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States and Mexico through more than 700 dealers. Operations in Mexico are managed by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.
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