Mazda Toyota Manufacturing Surpasses One Million Vehicles

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM), a joint venture between Toyota Motor Corporation and Mazda Motor Corporation, has produced more than one million vehicles since beginning operations five years ago. The company announced the production milestone on October 28 at its manufacturing facility in Huntsville, Alabama. The USD 2.311 billion plant employs more than 4,500 people and manufactures vehicles for both automakers, representing a significant shared manufacturing operation in the United States.

The facility assembles the Toyota Corolla Cross and Corolla Cross HEV, alongside the Mazda CX-50 and CX-50 Hybrid. Its production operations are divided between two assembly lines: Toyota's Apollo line and Mazda's Discovery line. The plant produces approximately 1,200 vehicles daily, with each production line accounting for around 600 units. This arrangement allows the two automakers to share manufacturing infrastructure while maintaining separate vehicle production operations.

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles when operating two shifts, with each automaker allocated capacity for 150,000 units. However, actual production in 2025 reached 238,258 vehicles combined. This figure remained below the facility's stated annual capacity, reflecting the difference between its available manufacturing capability and the number of vehicles assembled during the year.

The partnership also extends beyond shared factory operations into vehicle powertrain technology. The Mazda CX-50 Hybrid uses Toyota's hybrid drivetrain, comprising a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, three electric motors and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). The hybrid version accounts for approximately 35% of total CX-50 sales, highlighting the contribution of Toyota's technology to Mazda's product offering through the manufacturing partnership.

Production arrangements have also been affected by international trade measures. Mazda has ended production of Canada-market CX-50 vehicles at the Huntsville facility because counter-tariffs imposed by Canada in response to U.S. tariffs have reduced the profitability of exporting these vehicles north of the border. U.S. tariffs have similarly influenced Mazda's manufacturing decisions elsewhere. The automaker moved production of U.S.-market Mazda3 vehicles from its facility in Mexico to Japan following the impact of U.S. tariffs.

Industry Impact & Outlook

Mazda Toyota Manufacturing's one-million-vehicle milestone demonstrates the production scale achieved through collaboration between two major Japanese automakers in the United States. Shared manufacturing infrastructure, separate assembly lines and the integration of Toyota hybrid technology into Mazda vehicles illustrate the operational and technological dimensions of the partnership. However, the changes to Canada-market CX-50 production and Mazda3 manufacturing arrangements demonstrate how tariffs and cross-border trade conditions can influence vehicle production locations and export decisions. The facility's 238,258-unit output in 2025 also provides a measure of its utilization against its annual capacity of 300,000 vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

What production milestone has Mazda Toyota Manufacturing achieved?
Mazda Toyota Manufacturing has produced more than one million vehicles since starting production five years ago. The joint venture announced this achievement on October 28 at its Huntsville, Alabama, facility. The milestone covers production for both Mazda and Toyota, which share the manufacturing site and operate separate assembly lines. The facility represents a USD 2.311 billion investment and employs more than 4,500 people, supporting production of several models for the two automakers.

Which vehicles are manufactured at the Huntsville facility?
The Huntsville plant manufactures four models: the Toyota Corolla Cross, Toyota Corolla Cross HEV, Mazda CX-50 and Mazda CX-50 Hybrid. Production is divided between Toyota's Apollo assembly line and Mazda's Discovery assembly line, with each line building approximately 600 vehicles per day. Together, the two lines produce around 1,200 vehicles daily. The arrangement enables both automakers to manufacture their respective vehicles at a shared facility while maintaining separate production operations.

What is the annual production capacity of Mazda Toyota Manufacturing?
The Huntsville facility has an annual production capacity of 300,000 vehicles when operating two shifts. This capacity is divided equally between Mazda and Toyota, providing each automaker with the capability to produce 150,000 vehicles annually. In 2025, the plant assembled 238,258 vehicles combined, below its stated maximum annual capacity. Its daily production is approximately 1,200 vehicles, with around 600 units manufactured on each company's assembly line.

What Toyota technology is used in the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid?
The Mazda CX-50 Hybrid uses a Toyota-supplied hybrid drivetrain featuring a 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine, three electric motors and a continuously variable transmission (CVT). This powertrain integration demonstrates how the Mazda-Toyota partnership extends beyond shared manufacturing facilities into vehicle technology. The hybrid variant represents approximately 35% of total CX-50 sales, making it a notable part of the model's sales mix. The arrangement allows Mazda to incorporate Toyota's hybrid technology into its SUV offering.

Why has Mazda ended production of Canada-market CX-50 vehicles in Huntsville?
Mazda ended production of Canada-market CX-50 vehicles at the Huntsville facility because Canadian counter-tariffs introduced in response to U.S. tariffs reduced the profitability of exporting vehicles north. The trade measures affected the economics of supplying the Canadian market from the Alabama plant. This development illustrates how tariffs can influence manufacturing and export arrangements between countries. The decision concerns Canada-market CX-50 production at Huntsville, rather than the overall production of the model at the facility.

How have U.S. tariffs affected Mazda's other manufacturing operations?
U.S. tariffs have also influenced Mazda's production arrangements for the U.S. market outside its Huntsville joint venture. The company moved production of U.S.-market Mazda3 vehicles from its manufacturing facility in Mexico to Japan following the impact of U.S. tariffs. This decision, alongside the changes to Canada-market CX-50 production, illustrates how trade measures can affect the geographic organization of automotive manufacturing. Both developments demonstrate the relevance of cross-border tariff conditions to Mazda's vehicle production and export decisions.