HUNTSVILLE, Ala — Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is set to shift production into high gear for a brand new model!
It’s called the Mazda CX-50!
MTM made the announcement nearly a couple months after announcing production for the 2022 Corolla Cross.
“It’s huge for us. We have a brand new plant, a brand new team members. We have new technology. And for Mazda it’s just a huge milestone,” said MTM Production Vice President Janette Hostettler.
The 2022 Mazda CX-50 includes the latest i-Activ All-Wheel Drive (AWD) technology and new Mazda Intelligent Drive Select, or Mi-Drive.
This helps the SUV drive naturally in a wide variety of conditions, such as in exciting ‘off-road terrain’ or providing ‘reliable towing capabilities’.
“It’s not just a vehicle that takes you from Point A to B. It actually is your partner. When you get in the vehicle. You have a great day, you turn on the radio. You listen to it, you drive and you hum along. It just motivates you,” said Hostettler.
So far MTM has 2,600 people are on the team, but the company is at a goal of 4,000.
“So we’ve got another 1,400 to go. But not only us here at Mazda Toyota, but we’ve got surrounding onsite suppliers, or what we call on-site partners. So they’re going to hire as well. So there’s so much opportunity here. So not just to get hired on, but just to get developed,” said Hostettler.
The plant has the capacity to produce 300,000 vehicles a year, evenly split between the two nameplates.
“Put a lot of hands-on in helping build the line and improve our process, tweak our process,” said Assembly Discover Line Team LeaderJuan Trujillo.
“I’m really excited to see the car being put together because I’m in the paint department. So we’re like the first stop, well the second. After you see the cars with the wheels and everything it’s like I had a hand in that,” said Paint Discovery Line Team Member Cynthia Williams.
MTM leaders say no experience is necessary to join their team.
“We’ve had people to be insurance salesmen, hairdressers, people from retail, the food industry that have joined MTM,” said MTM Administration Vice President Mark Brazeal.
“No matter how much experience you have, you go it. Come in here, come ready. They’ll teach you,” said Stamping Team Member Kenzi Vest.
Production for the Mazda CX-50 is scheduled to start in January.