Mazda may build factory in US/guy321 is a smartass
01-11-2006, 03:06 PM
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Mazda may build factory in US/guy321 is a smartass
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?p...top_world_news
Jan. 9 (Bloomberg) -- Mazda Motor Corp., which exports about 70 percent of the autos it makes in Japan, said it is considering building a new factory in the U.S. or Europe to reduce the risk from currency fluctuations.
``A new factory would help ease the impact from swings in foreign currencies.'' President Hisakazu Imaki said in an interview yesterday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. ``If we're to open a factory in the U.S. or Europe, it will be one that can produce multiple models on one assembly line.''
Mazda, a third owned by Ford Motor Co, expects a second year of record earnings in the year ending March 31, 2006. A movement in either the value of the dollar or euro by 1 yen raises or lowers operating profit 1.5 billion yen ($13 million), Mazda has said. The Hiroshima, Japan-based company might take over some of Ford's production capacity in the U.S., Imaki said.
``A new factory would help ease the impact from swings in foreign currencies.'' President Hisakazu Imaki said in an interview yesterday at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit. ``If we're to open a factory in the U.S. or Europe, it will be one that can produce multiple models on one assembly line.''
Mazda, a third owned by Ford Motor Co, expects a second year of record earnings in the year ending March 31, 2006. A movement in either the value of the dollar or euro by 1 yen raises or lowers operating profit 1.5 billion yen ($13 million), Mazda has said. The Hiroshima, Japan-based company might take over some of Ford's production capacity in the U.S., Imaki said.
01-12-2006, 02:24 PM
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I would be very cautious about buying a US-made Mazda. We allready have Mazda production here, in Flat Rock Michigan. They made the 626 and now make the 6.
I much rather prefer a Hiroshima-built Mazda.
I much rather prefer a Hiroshima-built Mazda.
01-12-2006, 02:48 PM
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honda and toyota quality have gone up since they stated producing here. Hyundai also is getting better and they just started producing here.
its about traning, QC and the enviroment the managment creates- not the location
its about traning, QC and the enviroment the managment creates- not the location
01-12-2006, 02:54 PM
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From my experience with Honda, the quality has steadily declined since Marysville, OH. My old Japan cars were far more reliable. My Wife's Acura is a POS!
01-12-2006, 03:24 PM
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Originally Posted by zoom44
honda and toyota quality have gone up since they stated producing here. Hyundai also is getting better and they just started producing here.
its about traning, QC and the enviroment the managment creates- not the location
its about traning, QC and the enviroment the managment creates- not the location
The examples of US-built Hondas, Mazdas and BMWs I've seen have not instilled the best of confidence in me. My neighbor's new Honda Odessey, built in Marysville, OH, has loose bits of trim, improperly installed weatherstripping on the doors, rattling seats due to improperly-torqued seat rail bolts... had that been a Tokyo-built Honda, none of those little things would've slipped by -- they'd never let that car leave the factory like that.
Similarly, I've seen Georgia-built BMWs (Z3s) with trim, fit and finish issues.
I'm still not convinced that we can build cars in the US to the same standards as Japan, regardless of nameplate.
Sad, really.
And no, Japanese-built cars are not immune either. But from my experience, you see little issues like this more in US-built vehicles. Let's not even go into Mexican-built VW's.
I've seen the same with Cessna... and a new 172 is a quarter-million dollars. To have falling trim on a quarter-million dollar item is simply inexcusable.
01-12-2006, 03:33 PM
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If Mazda wants to have a US plant, then they should use one of the 5 plants that Ford is going to be shuttering in the next couple of years.....it will save them some overhead and those states would give major incentives to keep those surrounding towns alive. Just my $.02.
01-12-2006, 03:44 PM
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Originally Posted by missinmahseven
The examples of US-built Hondas, Mazdas and BMWs I've seen have not instilled the best of confidence in me. My neighbor's new Honda Odessey, built in Marysville, OH, has loose bits of trim, improperly installed weatherstripping on the doors, rattling seats due to improperly-torqued seat rail bolts... had that been a Tokyo-built Honda, none of those little things would've slipped by -- they'd never let that car leave the factory like that.
Huge assumption!!!! My 8 was built in Japan and I have more squeeks and rattles than my wife's US built Pacifica. Some assembly plants are just better than others....being in Japan is not the deciding factor.
01-12-2006, 03:45 PM
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Originally Posted by bascho
If Mazda wants to have a US plant, then they should use one of the 5 plants that Ford is going to be shuttering in the next couple of years.....it will save them some overhead and those states would give major incentives to keep those surrounding towns alive. Just my $.02.
01-12-2006, 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by bascho
Huge assumption!!!! My 8 was built in Japan and I have more squeeks and rattles than my wife's US built Pacifica. Some assembly plants are just better than others....being in Japan is not the deciding factor.
I figure by the Rx-8 MkII they'll have it all licked. As it is, it is the quietest car I've had. My Miata had a few even when new -- seatbacks rubbing against the rear brace would squeek, and pax seat would rattle unless I had it pinned against the brace... which made it squeek....
Other than little squeaks and rattles, I've never had a problem with my Hiroshima mazdas. Not a single bad alternator, no starter problems, nothing.. and my last 2 were both 130,000+ mile cars. The 8 will be too, given the chance.
In the meantime, I watch coworkers with US built cars (honda, mazda) of recent years (2000-now) replace alternators, transmissions, starters, and other stuff. So no, for me, it may be an assumption, but it has been based on observation.
The 626 seems particularly prone to tranny trouble. But I don't know if that also affects Japan-built 626s.. all the 626s I personally know were US-built.
01-12-2006, 04:28 PM
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On the note of build quality, I was extremely appalled by the bodies of many Aston Martins at the dealership I purchased my 8. Hoods lining up differently, different sized gaps, etc. It was so bad you could run your hand over the hood/body gap and notice it was not flush, mm of height difference! I was amazed at how poorly manufactured they seemed. Where are the majority of Aston Martins produced?
01-12-2006, 05:39 PM
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Originally Posted by bascho
Maybe I should tell Mazda to cut me a check 
dont think they will since Mr. Imaki thought of it first
The Hiroshima, Japan-based company might take over some of Ford's production capacity in the U.S., Imaki said.
01-12-2006, 05:47 PM
#22
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Originally Posted by zoom44
honda and toyota quality have gone up since they stated producing here. Hyundai also is getting better and they just started producing here.
its about traning, QC and the enviroment the managment creates- not the location
its about traning, QC and the enviroment the managment creates- not the location
What you said about the QC and working environment are correct, but, the US and Australia will never make a car as good in fit and finish when you compare it to Asian and in particular Japanese made cars by Japanese people.
The Japanese have the personal attention to detail (QC) that the US and others can not match, because of their dedication and commitment to their job and workmanship.
As an industry the Japanese manufacturers and staff live for their work, they provide housing, sporting, and health facilities.
They only strike once a year, to arbitrate any working and wage conditions.
Yes, US and AUS are getting better, but still have a long way to go....IMO
01-12-2006, 05:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Don Vito
There is no difference in quality. Japanese auto makers make sure that their cars are made exactly the same way in the US, as they are back home. Trust me.
01-12-2006, 07:20 PM
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Considering that Toyota is the universal symbol of high quality, and the majority of their vehicles sold in America are built in America, I have a hard time believing the American worker is somehow inherently inferior to his Japanese counterparts. Please do not try to use the "culture" argument to justify Japanese workers being better than American ones. The quantifiable data proves this argument to be false. Those who don't believe me, I suggest you read a few of these books: The Deindustrialization of America, The End of Detroit, and Honda Motor. Try googling the "Toyota Way" to find out how they make reliable cars with "inferior" american workers. Here's a link from a year ago:
http://www.clublexus.com/index.php/a...iew/3056/1/10/
"Total TMS sales of North American-built vehicles totaled 1,297,900, representing 63.0 percent of total vehicles sold in 2004."
No way the other 37 percent of Toyotas that are built in Japan are propping up the quality of the Toyota.
http://www.clublexus.com/index.php/a...iew/3056/1/10/
"Total TMS sales of North American-built vehicles totaled 1,297,900, representing 63.0 percent of total vehicles sold in 2004."
No way the other 37 percent of Toyotas that are built in Japan are propping up the quality of the Toyota.
Last edited by 4thGen; 01-12-2006 at 07:35 PM.
01-12-2006, 10:10 PM
#25
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I am being very presumptuous here "4th Gen" that you are referring to my post.
US Auto workers are "inferior"..... inferior is a word that I have not used.
Referring to an actual make (Toyota US) with "data" that quantifies the argument as false is interesting.
Toyota being the "universal symbol of quality" is also another interesting statement, yes Toyota are a good brand, I would suggest that owners 'universally' in my experience would rate them in the top 6. I would put Honda,Mazda,Subaru above them. Most owner surveys don't have Toyota as the number one symbol of quality and reliability in Australia,England and New Zealand.
Having experienced the actual environment of car plants and their workers I still stand by my statement.
Having toured the Chrysler Australia plant in my home state in the 70s, now Mitsubishi.
The Mazda plants Hiroshima and Hofu in the 80s and 90s..
Worked very briefly in the Mitsubishi plant in 1999.
The Toyota Australia Altona plant in Melbourne.2002.
Toured the GM- Holden plant also in my home state last year and the Mitsubishi plant here in 05, the Japanese still put more pride in their work, the very latest manufacturing tool and equipment, and a workplace area (floors) that you could eat your lunch off!
Yes, not all plants are the same, look at GM US almost bankrupt because of unsustainable work place entitlements, with Ford in a similar position.
Here makers sales for 2005 are...
1.Toyota Australia with their local built Camry and imports..
2.GM Holden that also makes and exports your discontinued Pontiac GTO...
3.Ford Australia.
4.Mazda Australia (Number one all import make)
5.Mitsubishi Motors Australia
It is because of poor QC, that buyers have taken to Japanese cars over the decades, wherever they are made, the brand name is the symbol of quality, its just that Jap cars made in Japan are better.
US Auto workers are "inferior"..... inferior is a word that I have not used.
Referring to an actual make (Toyota US) with "data" that quantifies the argument as false is interesting.
Toyota being the "universal symbol of quality" is also another interesting statement, yes Toyota are a good brand, I would suggest that owners 'universally' in my experience would rate them in the top 6. I would put Honda,Mazda,Subaru above them. Most owner surveys don't have Toyota as the number one symbol of quality and reliability in Australia,England and New Zealand.
Having experienced the actual environment of car plants and their workers I still stand by my statement.
Having toured the Chrysler Australia plant in my home state in the 70s, now Mitsubishi.
The Mazda plants Hiroshima and Hofu in the 80s and 90s..
Worked very briefly in the Mitsubishi plant in 1999.
The Toyota Australia Altona plant in Melbourne.2002.
Toured the GM- Holden plant also in my home state last year and the Mitsubishi plant here in 05, the Japanese still put more pride in their work, the very latest manufacturing tool and equipment, and a workplace area (floors) that you could eat your lunch off!
Yes, not all plants are the same, look at GM US almost bankrupt because of unsustainable work place entitlements, with Ford in a similar position.
Here makers sales for 2005 are...
1.Toyota Australia with their local built Camry and imports..
2.GM Holden that also makes and exports your discontinued Pontiac GTO...
3.Ford Australia.
4.Mazda Australia (Number one all import make)
5.Mitsubishi Motors Australia
It is because of poor QC, that buyers have taken to Japanese cars over the decades, wherever they are made, the brand name is the symbol of quality, its just that Jap cars made in Japan are better.
Last edited by ASH8; 01-12-2006 at 10:16 PM.