Mazda Readies CV-3 Crossover Production in Thailand

Mazda Motor Corp. may begin producing its new CX-3 small crossover in Thailand before the end of 2015, according to The Nikkei. The car was launched in Japan six months ago.

The Tokyo-based newspaper says the vehicle will be assembled from knock-down kits at Mazda's AutoAlliance (Thailand) facility in Rayong Province at a rate of several thousand per month. The Rayong plant, which currently assembles the Mazda2 small car and other models, has annual capacity to build more than 100,000 vehicles.

Mazda aims to sell about 150,000 CX-3 vehicles worldwide per year. Mazda has been making the CX-3 exclusively at its factory in Hiroshima, but that facility is running at near capacity. Thai-assembled models will go on sale in that country early next year and also may be exported, according to The Nikkei.