Mazda may end production at Flat Rock plant that it shares with Ford

According to Mazda’s Chief Financial Officer Kiyoshi Ozaki, Mazda is looking into options for the underutilized Flat Rock plant that it jointly operates with Ford. Ozaki said that Mazda is even considering ending production at the plant – he said that final plans for the plant will be announced later this year.

Ozaki, as quoted by Bloomberg, said that Mazda is considering many options including overhauling the plant, changing the models built there and halting output.

The plant runs a single shift producing Mazda6 and the Ford Mustang. In 2010, Mazda produced about 36,000 units of the Mazda6, while Ford produced 78,000 Mustangs.

Ford, once a controlling shareholder of Mazda with more than 30 percent, now owns just 3.5 percent of the Japanese automaker.

– By: Omar Rana

Source: Detroit News