Mazda to double annual production capacity of SKYACTIV Engines to 800,000 units; increasing capacity for CX-5

Mazda Motor Corporation will double production capacity at its engine plant in Hiroshima 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 Technology.
SKYACTIV-G is a highly efficient, new-generation direct-injection gasoline engine. Mazda engineers overcame the problem of abnormal combustion (knocking) to achieve the highest compression ratio for a mass production gasoline engine for vehicles. 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 diesel engine that complies with global exhaust gas regulations without the need for a costly NO_x aftertreatment system. It achieves the lowest compression ratio for a mass production diesel engine for vehicles. 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% of total sales.
Mazda also will increase production capacity of its new crossover SUV, Mazda CX-5, from 200,000 units to 240,000 units per year. This will be achieved by expanding production from Ujina Plant No.2 to also include Ujina Plant No.1. Upgrades to the assembly line are based on Mazda’s manufacturing system innovation called Monotsukuri Innovation and will enable production of new generation SKYACTIV products at Ujina Plant No.1 earlier than anticipated. The move is made in response to increasing demand for the CX-5 in countries all over the world.


Source: Green Car Congress