Press Release
Invests Additional $2.3 Million in Chesterfield County Facility
Washington, DC – July 28, 2011 – Today, Mazda North American Operations held a Grand Opening of its new Automatic Transmission Remanufacturing Line at its Rotary Engine Remanufacturing facility in Chesterfield County, Virginia. Mazda has invested $2.3 million in this new line and added 21 full time jobs.
Originally opened in 2008 as a rotary engine remanufacturing line, the facility also includes a power steering pump line, a dealer training center and information call center. Since Mazda’s initial move to Chesterfield County and investment of $1.6 million, the company has now invested an additional $2.3 million in this facility and added 21 full time jobs. Mazda currently employs 41 full time and 29 temporary employees at this site.
“Mazda is thrilled with its location in Chesterfield County, it has enabled us to effectively serve our desired distribution area,” said Mazda’s Vice President of Customer Service, Yasuo Kunita. “With the quality workforce in Chesterfield, the facility’s central east coast location and the continued support and assistance of Chesterfield Economic Development, we have been able to deliver quality service to our customers efficiently and cost effectively. We look forward to doing the same with our transmission line.”
The Automatic Transmission Line disassembles and remanufactures Mazda automatic transmissions for the MAZDA3 and MAZDA5. The projected volume is 3,000 units per year. On the Rotary Remanufacturing Line, Mazda disassembles and rebuilds its one-of-a-kind Renesis rotary engine, used in the rotary-powered RX-8 sports car and produced over 5,000 remanufactured engines last year. The Power Steering Pump Line disassembles, remanufactures, and tests power steering pumps in support of the power steering pump recall for the MAZDA3 and MAZDA5 and has remanufactured over 150,000 pumps in 11 months of operation. Mazda expects to produce almost 200,000 pumps in support of the recall. The Training Center facility houses the training center for dealer technicians as well as a technical assistance hotline.
“We are very pleased to have Mazda Motor Corporation, a prominent member of the County’s Japanese and International manufacturing community. We are particularly happy that they are expanding in Chesterfield as a result of the success they have experienced in the County.” said Art Warren, Chairman, Chesterfield County Board of Supervisors.
Mazda leases 133,000 square feet of space from Weingarten Realty in Enterchange @ Walthall, Building A. The building is located at the Walthall interchange on Ruffin Mill Road and is in the Walthall Enterprise Zone
In addition to Chesterfield Economic Development; Mazda will be assisted in their expansion process by Virginia Jobs Investment Program and the State Enterprise Zone Program.
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