Mazda in Isuzu pickup deal

Mazda will widen its product portfolio in Thailand before the end of the decade, when production capacity at its Rayong facility is freed up.

Under a new agreement with Isuzu, the next-generation BT-50 pickup will no longer be made at Auto Alliance Thailand.

Speaking to auto journalists on the eve of the Tokyo motor show this week, Asean general manager Hiroshi Inoue has confirmed that Isuzu will be supplying the new pickup for Mazda.

The BT-50 is made alongside its Ford Ranger sibling at AAT, a joint venture between the US and Japanese brands, with annual capacity of 275,000 units.

As Ford has another plant in Rayong that can handle the next-generation Ranger, it is likely that its shareholding equity will be sold to Mazda.

Mr Inoue said Mazda would be able to broaden its offerings in the Asean market, but declined to say which specific model would join the CX-3, 2 and 3 at the Thai plant. The CX-5 is currently made in Malaysia.

Another source said that an ideal candidate for Thai assembly would be a threerow SUV. Mazda currently sells such vehicles in Japan — the CX-9 and the sportier CX-8 derivative.

As for Mazda’s electric vehicle plans, Mr Inoue said hybrid-powered cars — under another agreement with Toyota — will come on stream before fully electric ones by 2020.