Where Are Mazda6 Made? (Solved & Explained)

The Mazda6 made its debut in 2002 and is one of the best cars in its class.

Featuring a sporty, athletic design the Mazda6 is well known for its comfort, technology, safety and performance.

If you’re researching the Mazda6 you might be wondering where they’re built.

We’ll cover that in-depth in this article, read on to find out…

Where Is Mazda6 Made?

The Mazda6 is made exclusively at the Hofu plant in Yamaguchi, Japan. Previously the Mazda6 was also made at the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock, Michigan for the North American Market. After the 2021 model year the Mazda6 is discontinued in the US and Canada.

Production of the Mazda6 takes place at Mazda’s Hofu Plant and has been in production here since its release in 2002.

The Hofu plant opened in ’82 and consists of two main elements:

  1. An automobile assembly complex in Nishinoura District, which has two main factories, H1 and H2.
  2. A transmission plant in nearby Nakanoseki District

The H1 and H2 factories cover a total of 792,000 square meters of space.

The H2 facility is where the Mazda6 is made.

Are Mazda6 for the US Market Produced in the US?

The Mazda6 for the US market is made at the Hofu Plant in Japan and then shipped to the United States. The Mazda6 was previously built at the AutoAlliance International Plant in Flat Rock, Michigan for the North American market.

As of 2021 the Mazda6 will be discontinued in the US and Canada as “consumer interests continue to evolve”.

Mazda’s explanation for moving production of the Mazda6 to the Japanese plant is due to it being less popular than other models.

The Mazda6 was produced in the United States at the AutoAlliance International plant in Flat Rock, Michigan (co-owned by Ford).

However in 2011 it was announced that the US market’s supply will come from the Hofu Plant in Japan.

Where are they assembled?

All Mazda6 models are assembled at the Hofu Plant, Japan. Specifically, they are assembled at the H2 automobile assembly complex in the Nishinoura District. The H2 complex is responsible for assembling the Mazda6 as well as many other Mazda models.

Assembly is the final step in the manufacturing process during which all parts which have been sourced domestically and globally, are put together to form the final product.

You may also be interested in our article: How Long Do Mazda6 Last?

How Can You Check Where a Specific Mazda6 Was Made?

You can check the exact location of where your Mazda6 was made by using the Vehicle Identification Number.

The number is on a plate attached to the cowl panel located on the left corner of the dashboard.

This plate can easily be seen through the windshield.

You may also find your Mazda6 VIN:

  1. On your insurance card if you already have it.
  2. On the interior portion of your vehicle’s door frame

Once you have found the VIN number you can use an online VIN decoder to decipher the VIN for you, which will give you all the information regarding your Mazda6.

The first character of the VIN signifies the country that the vehicle originated from.

For example, a J will signify that the car is from Japan.

The 11th digit indicates the plant where the vehicle was built and assembled.

If the 11th digit is a 1, then the vehicle was assembled at the Hofu plant in Yamaguchi, Japan.

You may also be interested in our article: 14 Mazda6 Facts & Statistics

Are Japanese-built Mazda6 Better than American-built Mazda6?

As one of the leading Japanese car manufacturers, you can expect the build quality of the Mazda6 to be consistent regardless of where it was made.

It is important to note, production of the Mazda6 ended in the US in 2011 – they are now built exclusively in Japan.

Where Is the Mazda6 Designed?

Over the course of each generation the Mazda6 has received numerous style updates and is well known for its sleek, athletic design.

The Mazda6 was designed at the Mazda head office in Hiroshima, Japan. The Mazda6 was marketed as the first example of the company’s “Stylish, Insightful and Spirited” design philosophy.

Mazda Engineers treated the 6 as a work of art rather than an inanimate machine, with the aim of “instilling the soul of a sports car”.

The Mazda6 has had a new lead designer for each generation, they are:

  • Kaname Sawai – 1st Generation
  • Koichi Sato – 2nd Generation
  • Akira Tamatani – 3rd Generation

Where Is the Mazda6 Made for the Australian Market?

Mazda6 cars that are bound for Australia are built and assembled at Mazda’s Hofu Plant, Yamaguchi, Japan.

Where Is the Mazda6 Made for the Canadian Market?

The Canadian bound Mazda6 models are built at Mazda’s Hofu Plant, Yamaguchi, Japan. However, as of 2021 the Mazda6 is discontinued in Canada.

Where Is the Mazda6 Made for the UK Market?

The Mazda6 for the UK market is built at the Mazda’s Hofu Plant, Yamaguchi, Japan.

The cars are shipped from Japan to Zeebrugge in Belgium.

From there, Mazda uses freight companies to transport them to the UK.

Is Mazda Planning to Move Its Production?

Mazda is not planning on moving production of the 6 and for the foreseeable future, it will be produced in Japan. For the North American market the model will be discontinued as of 2021, however it will still be in production for other international markets.

Despite being discontinued in the US and Canada there are rumors that Mazda will introduce a new midsize sedan in the not too distant future that will have rear-wheel drive and be powered by an inline-six engine.

Mazda is expanding in America though, with a new Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) facility being opened in Hunstville Alabama in the next few years.

MTM is investing $2.3 billion into the plant which has an available space of 1200 acres of which they are currently using 400 acres.

You may also be interested in our article: Where are Mazda CX-5 Made?

Is Mazda Hiring or Firing in the US?

With the opening of Mazda’s new Huntsville Alabama assembly plant, Mazda is creating over 4000 new jobs. The plant has already hired 600 people, and hiring is expected to resume in late 2021.

The Mazda USA careers page states that they are on the lookout for skilled, energetic people who can jump in and help out in a wide range of skill areas – with various job roles available up and down the country.

According to online job-seeking sites such as Indeed and Glassdoor, Mazda is currently hiring for various positions.

Is Mazda an American Company?

Mazda is a Japanese company that is otherwise known as The Mazda Motor Corporation, it was part-owned by Ford from 1974 to 2015 and now stands as its own entity.

Founded in Hiroshima, Japan in 1920 the first vehicle they produced was in fact a motorized tricycle.

The name Mazda comes from Ahura Mazda, the god of wisdom, intelligence and harmony in early Asian civilizations.

Related: 8 Most Common Problems With Mazda 6 (Explained)

Resources

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vAnmLLE4ns

https://cars.usnews.com/cars-trucks/mazda/mazda6

https://www.townnorthmazda.com/manufacturer-information/where-is-mazda-from/

https://www.mazda.com/en/innovation/mazda-stories/mazda/shipping/

https://enginepatrol.com/how-long-do-mazda-6-last/

https://www.mazdausa.com/site/careers

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a18740994/next-gen-mazda-6-to-be-built-in-japan-casting-some-doubt-on-future-of-flat-rock-michigan-factory/

Author:

  • Ian Sawyer

    Growing up with a father who was a mechanic I had an appreciation for cars and motorcycles from an early age. I shared my first bike with my brother that had little more than a 40cc engine but it opened up a world of excitement for me, I was hooked. As I grew older I progressed onto bigger bikes and...