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Mazda to Adjust Production System in Japan

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Old 01-22-2009 | 02:01 AM
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AU Mazda to Adjust Production System in Japan

January 19, 2009
Corporate Communications Division
Mazda Motor Corporation

Mazda to Adjust Production System in Japan

Following on its December 12, 2008, announcement, Mazda Motor Corporation has announced
further adjustments to its production system in Japan for February and March 2009:

- Effective in February, the Hiroshima Plant’s Ujina Plant No.1 (U1) and the Hofu Plant’s Hofu
Plant No.1 (H1) will resume night shift operations.
- Effective in February, the Hiroshima Plant’s Ujina Plant No.2 (U2) and the Hofu Plant’s Hofu
Plant No.2 (H2) will switch from a two-shift (day/night) production system (with night shift
operations currently suspended in January) to a one (day) shift system.
- The Hiroshima and Hofu plants will suspend production on Fridays in February and March.

In response to the continuing deterioration in global market conditions, these actions are being
taken to manage inventory levels and maintain an appropriate balance in production supply.
Mazda will continue to monitor unpredictable market conditions and will swiftly respond with
appropriate measures going forward.

With the implementation of these measures, employees that have been working biweekly shifts in
January due to suspended production will now commence a four-day workweek in February and
March.
Old 01-22-2009 | 02:19 AM
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oh man
Old 01-22-2009 | 10:51 AM
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hmmm since there are a few other Mazda statements Ill post them here and keep them all in one thread for a change

Mazda CEO: 'Survival is the name of the game'
On other topics, O'Sullivan said:

• Mazda is closely watching Hyundai's program that allows consumers who lose their jobs to return their cars to the dealer. He said it was a good program that could help restore consumer confidence. Mazda has no plans to offer a similar program.

• Mazda continues to spend r&d money developing the rotary engine and adapting it to work with electric motors and to run on hydrogen. The rotary engine is one of Mazda's core brand assets. "We are making a real commitment to this technology."

• Mazda has no plans to launch a line of luxury cars.

• Mazda will not expand its manufacturing presence in the United States in the next few years. The company builds cars in Flat Rock, Mich., at a joint-venture plant with Ford Motor Co.
i was just contemplating this the other day. why not mate the rotary to a honda style hybrid system. boost economy 20- 30 % and power slightly as well. plus you've got a sports car hybrid in the stable then.
Old 01-22-2009 | 10:52 AM
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Mazda Decides Not to Join the EV Race

According to an interview with the Detroit News, Jim O’Sullivan, president of Mazda North America, says that Mazda has no plans to develop an electric vehicle, and will instead focus on making their sporty traditional fossil-fuel vehicles more fuel-efficient.
the author is a little affronted that Mazda is not
It seems like a shame. If anyone could bring zoom-zoom to the EV race, it would certainly be Mazda. Look what they did for the mini-van.
the orginal article is here Detroit News

"We will not go somewhere unless its 'zoom-zoom,'" said Jim O'Sullivan,
Old 01-22-2009 | 10:54 AM
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Jim O'Sullivan is talkative

Mazda/Ford Bond is still strong

Jim O'Sullivan, president and CEO of Mazda's North American operations, said Wednesday the relationship between Ford Motor Co. and Mazda remains almost entirely unchanged even though the domestic automaker has reduced its stake in the company.


"The relationship between Ford and Mazda is as strong as ever," O'Sullivan said.

Ford announced in November it would reduce its ownership of Mazda from 33.4% to 13.4%. Prior to the change Ford held a controlling interest in Mazda. Now, it is Mazda's largest shareholder.

"We still have, all over the world, very strong joint ventures that are 50/50," or equally owned by both companies, O'Sullivan said, including a manufacturing plant in Flat Rock. "The other piece that remains unchanged is that we are working very closely with them on technology, hybrids -- all of the things that are happening related to product development."

O'Sullivan also said that four of Ford's top executives also worked at Mazda at one time.

"They are all Mazda graduates," O'Sullivan said. "They all came from what I call the Mazda mafia ... so there is a real affection back in terms of those relationships."
Old 01-22-2009 | 11:05 AM
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Is the RX-8 built on Ujina 2? Does it share a flexible assembly line with the MX-5?

I wouldn't be surprised if fewer than 10000 RX-8s are produced for worldwide consumption during 2009...
Old 01-22-2009 | 11:13 AM
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• Mazda has no plans to launch a line of luxury cars.
I thought this was made clear after the Amati brand was axed 15 years ago. Who needs luxury when you've got sport.
Old 01-26-2009 | 07:49 PM
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i was just contemplating this the other day. why not mate the rotary to a honda style hybrid system. boost economy 20- 30 % and power slightly as well. plus you've got a sports car hybrid in the stable then.
Mazda has already investigated this concept quite a while ago, and I am sure that they are updating their previous designs. The Rotary hybrid was described the The RX-8 Book in its history of engines section. I will have to look back to see how long ago they built it and the exact details.
Old 01-26-2009 | 08:03 PM
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Originally Posted by zoom44

i was just contemplating this the other day. why not mate the rotary to a honda style hybrid system. boost economy 20- 30 % and power slightly as well. plus you've got a sports car hybrid in the stable then.
i think its a poor idea. by the time technology comes along far enough to make hybrids as we know them now truly worth it as a whole(cost/eco/everything), technology will have also leaped enough to make series hybridization MUCH more feasible for automobiles. RG talked about this and i did some reading on series hybrid diesel electrics. From what i could follow RG was right on the money in that as far as efficiency is concerned, thats the way to go especially as the tech catches up.

Thats what they use in trains.. just saw a commercial the other day for some rail company - they move 1 ton of product 42 miles on 1 gallon of fuel. Yes momentum and the fact that its measured at cruise makes a big difference there, but still...

IMO i'd think that as tech catches up... picture this:
1) a generator - its an electricoty plant. why not a diesel rotary, generators have no need for wide powerbands eliminating port/valve timing complications, very simple in design, they just need to be reliable at one load/rpm point. a rotary can do this is a very compact light weight package.
2) an electric motor - no need for a transmission, especially as technology improves. eventually instead of one elec motor, 4 hub/axle mounted motors that will also integrate all torque distribution services like TCS/DCS as well as regenerative braking/coasting.
3) a couple more generations in lithium battery tech and we'll start to see batteries that are truly worth the cost and side effects

I imagine a small diesel(rotary hopefully) generator under the hood, 4 electric motors at the hub/axles and batteries under the car and hood where you'd typically see tranny and some of the motor.
Old 01-27-2009 | 01:44 AM
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I still can't believe that MAzda work hard (and spend money) on a a serial hybrid w/rotary and run with h2 only....

It's simply NOT possible.....into the 5-years industrial plan of 2007 it's scheduled an hybrid veichle spcifically designed for Hybrid Rotary powertrain...

i still bet on a gasoline powered car w /HR
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