Mazda CX-30 Confirmed for Mexican Production

Mazda’s Salamanca plant is adding the CX-30 to its production line, ensuring its cars-and-crossovers strategy launches as planned. With the Mexican facility already manufacturing the Mazda3, it’s not a shock to see the compact added to the factory lineup as the pair utilize the same platform. In fact, Salamanca is already undergoing retooling to make sure it can incorporate the CX-30 and there were swirling rumors that the company’s official factory announcement would happen sometime this month.

While no formal announcement has been made, the company confirmed the move with Automotive News on Wednesday. Miguel Barbeyto, president of Mazda Mexico, said the facility had been selected partially due to the CX-30’s role as a global product. Mexico has free-trade agreements with numerous nations that Mazda believes will help it efficiently distribute Mexican-made product throughout Europe and North/South America.

From Automotive News:

The Salamanca plant has a capacity of 250,000 vehicles a year and also builds subcompact cars: the Mazda2 sedan and hatchback and the Toyota Yaris sedan and hatch. Mazda and Toyota have a production agreement at the plant, and the Yaris is a slightly modified version of the Mazda2.

Mazda also is building a U.S. plant in a joint venture with Toyota Motor Corp. that will produce a different Mazda crossover beginning in 2021. Mazda has not announced that vehicle, but it’s likely to be bigger than the CX-5 and smaller than the three-row CX-9. Toyota will build a distinct crossover that it also has not announced.

Slotted just above the subcompact CX-3, the CX-30 is intended to help Mazda maximize plant utilization. But with the popularity of traditional cars waining, it’s more likely to take center stage at the facility. Barbeyto even said the super-sexy Mazda3 hatchback would be moving out of Mexico and into Japan to help make room for the new crossover.

It’ll be hitting our streets in 2020, equipped with Mazda’s new Skyactiv-X engine. Older gasoline and diesel power plants will also be available, though not in all markets.

[Images: Mazda]