Mazda Will Hike SUV Output 50%

Mazda Motor Corp. aims to increase its output of SUV/crossover vehicles 50% to 800,000 units in the fiscal year that began April 1, The Nikkei reports.

Three such models accounted for one-third of Mazda’s global output of 1.57 million vehicles in the previous 12-month period. The company’s highest-volume SUV is the CX-5, which accounts for about 70% of its combined SUV/crossover sales.

This year Mazda expects to build 1.65 million vehicles. The company will phase out its minivans and shift production from cars to SUVs rather than add capacity. For example, it will relocate output of its CX-3 small crossover from Hiroshima to Hofu, which will release more capacity at Hiroshima for the CX-5 made there, The Nikkei says.

Mazda plans a major overhaul for the CX-5 in February, and it is finalizing an all-new three-row SUV to debut about one year from now.