HIROSHIMA, Japan—Changan Ford Mazda Automobile Co. Ltd (CFMA), a joint venture with Mazda Motor Corporation, Ford Motor Company and Changan Automotive Group, held an opening ceremony today to commemorate the launch of operations at their new manufacturing plant in Nanjing, China.

As announced at the Shanghai International Motor Show in April 2007, Mazda will commence mass production of the all-new Mazda2 at the Nanjing plant in late October 2007.

The CFMA Nanjing plant’s advanced stamping, body assembly, painting and final assembly lines employ Mazda’s state of the art production and manufacturing technologies. Constructed with JV partners Changan Automotive and Ford to be a highly efficient, employee- and eco-friendly plant, the plant covers 190,000 square meters and will have an initial annual capacity of 160,000 units.

“I’m delighted to be here today with our partners Ford and Changan to celebrate the inauguration of the Nanjing manufacturing plant,“ said Mazda’s Chairman of the Board and President, Hiasakazu Imaki. “Built with the latest production and manufacturing technologies and leveraging the combined strengths of the three joint venture partners, the Nanjing facility will deliver superior quality products to meet the demand of our customers in China. And through this plant, we will contribute even more to the development of the local economy and China’s automotive industry.”

The addition of Mazda2 production in the subcompact car segment will complement the CD-class Mazda6 and the C-class Mazda3, and round out Mazda’s main segment product lineup in China. The CFMA Nanjing plant is an important part of Mazda’s plans to produce and sell 300,000 units in China in 2010 and achieve the company’s Mazda Advancement Plan target of 1.6 million global retail sales by 2010. Mazda will utilize the Nanjing plant to the greatest extent possible as its delivers Zoom-Zoom products to more and more Chinese consumers, providing them with cars brimming with the joy of driving yet boasting a balance between eco-friendliness and safety.

Approximately 700 people were present at the ceremony, including senior executives of the joint venture: Chairman and President Hisakazu Imaki and Senior Executive Vice President Robert J. Graziano from Mazda; President of the China South Industries Group Xu Bin; Vice President of China South Industries Group and Chairman of Chongqing Changan and CFMA Yin Jiaxu; Ford Motor Company’s president and CEO Alan Mulally; and John Parker, executive vice president, Ford Asia Pacific and Africa. Representatives from Jiangsu province and the city of Nanjing also joined the event, along with attendees from suppliers and employees of the new plant.