HIROSHIMA, Japan—Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that, on July 5, 2006, its Hofu plant in Yamaguchi Prefecture has reached a cumulative vehicle production volume of seven million units. This milestone was achieved 23 years and 10 months since manufacture of the Mazda Capella (known as the Mazda 626 in overseas markets) commenced at the Hofu Plant No.1 in September 1982.

The Mazda Hofu plant has complexes based in two manufacturing districts. Auto parts production in the Nakanoseki district began in 1981 and the current Hofu Plant No.1 (H1), located in the Nishinoura district, was constructed in 1982. Mazda Capella/626 production started in September 1982 at the H1 plant. It is one of Mazda's major passenger vehicle production facilities, together with Mazda's Ujina plant, which is located near the company's headquarters in Hiroshima. In 1992, the Hofu Plant No.2 (H2) was built in the Nishinoura district with a "people-friendly plant" concept and production of the Eunos 500 (Xedos 6) began in February 1992.

The total combined production capacity of the H1 and H2 plants is approximately 394,000 units per year. Currently, the Hofu plants produce the Mazda Atenza (Mazda6) and Mazda Axela (Mazda3), which are key models for Mazda. They have been operating at full capacity since May 2002, when production of Atenza commenced.

In fiscal year 2004, the Hofu plant produced 496,472 vehicles, the highest cumulative production volume in the history of the facility. In fiscal 2005, the second-highest production volume, 484,196 units, was achieved. Additionally, since 1981 the Nakanoseki district of the Hofu plant—which produces transmissions—has manufactured over 24 million units to date.

The Hofu plant is actively engaged in local community activities such as organizing the "Mazda Invitation Youth Soccer Tournament" which is held every summer. It also plays an administrative role in the "Caring for Hofu Flea Market," the purpose of which is to help energize the local community. Through these activities, the Hofu plant strives to be a community-focused facility that coexists in harmony with, and is loved by, the surrounding community.

At a ceremony held today at the Hofu Plant No.1 to celebrate the seven million unit production volume milestone, Masafumi Nakano, executive officer and the Hofu plant general manager, said, "I would like to thank not just the plant employees, but also all of the people who support the Hofu plant, for their continuing efforts. We would not have been able to achieve seven million units of production without you. The Hofu plants deliver high quality vehicles with the latest technology to our customers around the world. In the future, we must further evolve our high-quality craftsmanship and, as a world-class vehicle assembly facility, continue to deliver the products which delight our customers. Today's seven million vehicle milestone is only one marker on the road to achieving even greater things. With everybody pitching in, let's reach for higher goals and try to build eight million, or even ten million, vehicles."