December 3, 1999

AAT-BUILT MAZDA 323 TO BE EXHIBITED AT BANGKOK MOTOR SHOW

- Additional production model at AutoAlliance (Thailand) Company, Ltd -

Mazda will unveil its compact sedan, the new Mazda 323, at the 16th Bangkok International Motor Show (*) on December 3, 1999. The new Mazda 323 is scheduled to be produced at AutoAlliance (Thailand) Company, Ltd. (AAT), Mazda's joint venture production plant, beginning early next year. The Mazda 323 is the second production model at AAT in addition to the Mazda B-series compact pickup.

The new Mazda 323 is the Thai specification model of the Mazda Familia, which was introduced in the Japanese market as a face-lifted model in August 1999. For the Thai market, only 4-door sedan model will be introduced. It incorporates excellent functionality into an intelligent packaging and embodies Mazda's brand personality: "Stylish," "Insightful" and "Spirited." Since its introduction into markets, customers all over the world have highly acclaimed the new Mazda 323's excellent packaging together with its distinctive styling and excellent performance that support the customer's active life style.

The introduction of the new Mazda 323 into the Thai market will strengthen Mazda's product line-up and Mazda Brand in the market, which is showing the sign of recovery.

AAT was established as a Mazda-Ford joint venture manufacturing plant in November 1995, and it started mass production of the Mazda B-series in May 1998. The export of the B-series to overseas markets, except for North America and Japan, was also started in December 1998. AAT started its operation on one shift at the beginning and, in October 1999, it has moved to two-shift operation.

(*) English name is "The 16th Siamese International Motor Trade Exhibition."
Press Day: December 3; Public Days: December 4 to 12