Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operations (MMVO)

Already known for its culture, architecture and gastronomy, Guanajuato has added manufacturing to the menu thanks to the booming automotive industry. The state is home to some of the sector’s world-class facilities and with Ford’s and Toyota’s latest investment announcements, Guanajuato will be home to six automotive OEMs. Mazda Motor Corporation is among those who have chosen to produce here.

Along with Sumitomo Corporation, the automaker picked Salamanca, Guanajuato, as the ideal location for a plant that now produces the Mazda2, the Mazda3 sedan and hatchback, plus the Yaris-R for Toyota. Led by President and CEO Chiharu Mizutani, the plant is 70 percent owned by Mazda and 30 percent by Sumitomo. Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation (MMVO) now supplies more than 50 percent of Mexico’s demand for Mazda vehicles.

The joint venture broke ground in October 2011 for what would become a US$770 million investment. By the time the plant was officially inaugurated by President Enrique Peña Nieto in February 2014, it was already manufacturing the Mazda3 and had established an agreement with Toyota for the annual production of 50,000 vehicles.

In October 2014, Mazda announced a line expansion that would take the plant’s capacity to a total annual production of 250,000 units, now including the Mazda2 and the Toyota models. Mazda also launched a new shop for motor machining before the end of the year. These new capabilities required a bigger workforce, leading to the creation of 600 more jobs to total 5,200 employees.

The plant reached an accumulated production of 100,000 units in December 2014 and acquired ISO 14001:2004 and ISO 9001:2008 certifications. Six months later it doubled its accumulated production and a year later it had produced 300,000 units.

During 2015, the plant also incorporated the production of the SKYACTIV 1.5-liter diesel engine. This 4-cylinder greatly improves performance and optimizes fuel efficiency. The Yaris-R, known as Scion iA in the US market, also joined the line. By July 2016, the Salamanca plant had achieved a total of 400,000 accumulated units for all its models.