Mazda to Build Transmission Plant in Thailand

Mazda Motor Cop. says it will spend 26 billion yen ($286 million) to erect a transmission plant Thailand's Chonburi Province.

The factory is scheduled to open between March and September of 2015 with annual capacity of 400,000 units. The company says the expansion is part of its goal of reaching annual global sales of 1.7 million vehicles in the fiscal year ending in March 2016.

The plant will be located about three miles from Mazda's AutoAlliance joint venture with Ford Motor Co. in Rayong, which makes small cars and pickup trucks.