Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) held a special media event yesterday at its joint manufacturing facility on Greenbrier Rd. to unveil the start of mass production of Mazda’s newest crossover SUV, the CX-50.

MTM’s launch ceremony, cheered on by hundreds of members of the plant’s workforce, featured a number of special guest speakers, including Mazda North American Operations (MNAO) President and CEO Jeff Guyton, MTM Vice President of Production Janette Hostettler, MTM president Masashi Aihara, and CX-50 Chief Engineer Naoki Okano.

MTM Vice President of Administration Mark Brazeal kicked off the festivities by announcing Mazda’s new Discovery line of production vehicles, beginning with the brand-new CX-50 crossover SUV. He noted that the $2.3 billion Huntsville facility is the first of its kind for both companies, featuring two production lines in operation.

Following the introduction, the audience of special guests and production workers cheered enthusiastically as Guyton rode to the front of the room in the first CX-50 to roll off of the production line to the tune of Steppenwolf’s “Born to Be Wild”.

20220126 123709 Guyton thanked the workers at the MTM plant, saying “You have worked so hard against such tremendous adversity the last couple of years to stand up this plant and build this line. So the first thing we’re celebrating today is all of you.”

Guyton also stated that they were celebrating their “robust partnership with Toyota. “That has been instrumental in allowing us to invest here jointly…create more than 4,000 jobs here in the plant, and several thousand more together with business partners in the area.”

“We are also celebrating and thanking the community, this amazing city of Huntsville and the great state of Alabama and all the partnership and friendship and support that you have shown us and the whole MTM team along the journey,” he continued.

Guyton noted that Mazda has been in business in the U.S. for almost 50 years, and “it is absolutely our genuine pride that we’re making this vehicle, the CX-50, here in Alabama, and specifically designed for the U.S. market.”

CX-50 Chief engineer Naoki Okano stated that the all-new, Huntsville-built CX-50 is specially made for the North American market, particularly to support the active and outdoor lifestyles of customers.

“We decided to create a car focusing only on the North American market from the ground up. And I believe that we at Mazda, known as a company that has relentlessly sought to create an experience of joyful driving…a Jinba-Ittai philosophy that seeks to create a car, a sense of oneness between car and driver,” he said.

Okano highlighted the CX-50’s “tough and powerful” appearance and its rugged sportiness. “We have made up our minds to put down roots here in Alabama and…we now stand at the very new edge in this chapter in history,” he continued.

“I am so honored to stand here today and announce that MTM has started production of the all-new Mazda CX-50,” MTM president Masa Aihara stated. “This moment has taken four years to prepare…four years of commitment from our parent company, four years of hard work from our team members, and four years of investment from our North Alabama community and stakeholders.”

Aihara noted the uniqueness of the company, which combined the experience and vision of Toyota and Mazda. “This is their moment to advance their presence in the United States, their moment to show off a vehicle produced and designed for North American drivers.”

MTM Executive Vice President Hiro Kagohashi expressed his happiness at celebrating MTM’s next milestone moment. “MTM is unique as a joint venture company, but so are the challenges we face. It’s not just Covid…but the very nature of a brand new company. So today it’s very important for me to appreciate all the members of MTM and MNAO to overcome all the challenges and to start production of the CX-50.”

Vice President of Production Janette Hostettler emphasized the “kaizen mindset” of the MTM workers, referring to the philosophy of a competitive strategy in which all employees work together to create a strong culture of constant improvement. She stated that MTM currently has about 1,200 spots open for new employees: “for those of you that want to be a part of this moment of history, the uniqueness of this company, and a part of the Mazda-Toyota manufacturing company, please come join us.”

In addition to company executives, one of the final speakers was Crystal Bass, a Discovery Line Body Weld team member. Bass described the car as a labor of love and described her close-knit production team, which follows the Japanese “Mendomi” philosophy of taking care of coworkers like they are family.

“From the moment I began working at MTM, I could tell the culture is filled with compassion, from the way in which we conduct new hire orientation to the way my team treated me and the leaders who inspired me,” Bass said.

Bass also noted the diversity and inclusion of the MTM workforce, with her team consisting of 30% women and 40% people of color.

“When I wake up to come to work every day, I feel like I’m leaving home to come home.”

During Brazeal’s closing remarks, he announced that in the coming months he hopes that MTM will hold a large-scale celebration along with the surrounding communities. “Stay tuned for our grand opening ceremony a little bit later.”