Mazda Toyota undertakes the construction of its new $1.6bn Alabama plant

Located in Huntsville, Alabama, Mazda Toyota has launched its jointly owned-and-operated automotive production plant which will have the capacity to build 300,000 vehicles per year. Set to complete by 2021, the partnership will enable the creation of 4,000 new jobs in the region, with the $1.6bn investment split between the two companies.

The plant will build Toyota’s Corolla, whose all-new 2020 model was unveiled yesterday in California, and Mazda’s yet-to-be revealed crossover model.

“We are proud to be here with Toyota, with whom we share the bond of pride in manufacturing,” said Kiyotaka Shobuda, Mazda’s Senior Managing Executive Officer. “We are proud to be breaking ground on a new ‘home’ here in Huntsville – a city that believes in the possibilities of technology and manufacturing, and has striven to realize mankind’s greatest dream.”

The alliance will assure competitiveness in manufacturing, allowing both automakers to respond quickly to market changes and helping to ensure sustainable growth toward the future of mobility.

“It is extremely special to have a partner like Mazda to team up with not only to make the highest-quality cars, but also to create a plant that team members are proud to call their own,” commented Jim Lentz, Chief Executive Officer, Toyota Motor North America.

“As we’ve seen at our Huntsville engine plant, Alabamians are a proud, talented, hard-working group. We are excited to continue our deep investment in the US and Alabama and see nothing but a bright future.”

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As part of its ground-breaking, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing US (MTMUS) donated $750,000 to support STEM-related programmes that will encourage and motivate students to pursue a career in the advanced manufacturing field. With 4,000 jobs to fill, the organisation is committed to investing in developing its future workforce in collaboration with local educators and economic development partners.  The donation includes:

• $500,000 to the Huntsville Madison County Chamber Foundation to launch a new career exploration online platform that will help highlight careers in manufacturing to students, build skills and connect job seekers to opportunities. The goal is to work with local school systems and promote this tool as a resource for career coaches and teachers. 
• $250,000 to be split between six school districts in Madison County, Limestone County and Morgan County. Support is aimed at STEM or career technical programmes that align with advanced manufacturing. The schools include:

'Huntsville City Schools

Madison County Schools

Madison City Schools

Limestone County Schools

Decatur City Schools

Morgan County Schools

In addition, the Mazda Foundation (USA), Inc. donated:

• $50,000 to Boys & Girls Club of North Alabama
• $50,000 to Food Bank of North Alabama
• $20,000 to Greater Huntsville Humane Society

Alabama remains one of the top 10 producers of cars and trucks in the US, where the new manufacturing facility will become the fourth to open in Alabama since the late 90s.

"This project is really a game-changer in advanced manufacturing for us, especially the commercial sector, not only because of the name recognition but (Mazda-Toyota) are forming a new joint venture. They’re looking at new ways of doing things, and we get to be on the forefront of that,” stated Lucia Cape, Senior Vice President of economic development, Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce.

“That puts us on a national and international stage and, because of the job numbers and the skill sets, we are going to step up our workforce development efforts to meet the challenge, which will open us up for future growth,”