Mazda Ending Production of the Mazda6 in Flat Rock, Michigan

[Orangutan]

http://editorial.autos.msn.com/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1184705

The Subaru Tribeca SUV and Mazda Mazda6 mid-sized sedan will be discontinued as their manufacturers seek to improve the efficiency of U.S. assembly plants, a Japan newspaper says.

Subaru has decided to stop r&d of a next-generation Tribeca and end production after the current version, the Nikkan Kogyo business daily reported on Tuesday.

Watch Video: 2011 Subaru Tribeca

Meanwhile, Mazda plans to stop making the Mazda6 at the Flat Rock, Mich., plant it operates as a joint venture with Ford Motor Co. Doing so may lead to Mazda pulling out all together, the newspaper said...

http://www.autoweek.com/article/20110510/CARNEWS/110519999

Meanwhile, the Mazda6 is a big reason Mazda can't turn a regional operating profit in North America--one of its most important markets.

The company planned to produce 100,000 Mazda6 units annually at the Flat Rock, Mich., plant, when the redesigned sedan was launched there in mid-2008. Then the financial crisis hit.

Last year the plant built only 45,168 units.

Mazda is cagey about what options it is mulling. If it quits producing the Mazda6, it could bring in another vehicle--or Mazda could quit the plant completely. Speculation abounds in Japan that Mazda is eyeing a new, lower cost North American production base in Mexico.

http://www.thetruthaboutcars.com/2011/05/will-mazda-abandon-us-production/

 

[ToNeZ90]

Interesting article, but i'm willing to bet that Mazda will continue production of the Mazda 6 at least for one more year to introduce the SKY engines and transmissions. I DO believe that they moved the car from the sporty sedan genre to a more mature commuter-driver genre when they changed to their new body style, and for some reason the general public doesnt like the styling. In that transition, people just started looking at price tags, and MPG. The 6 has a tough competition in MPG, and i believe thats what is killing the mazda 6. I almost bought a used 04 wagon myself as my first car, but i wanted a MT so i got the protege5.

The mazda 6 in my eyes is like the adult that loves to have a good time, and the mazda 3 be the wild child that grows into the fun 6.

Personally i think mazda just needs to reflect on how the GEN1 mazda 6 got its initial sales growth and attack the market in that manner, if possible, along with the new engine lineup. Mazda has the know-how to make this car as popular as the mazda 3.

 

[Rockin03mp5]

bummer really. i hope they keep some operation in the US. being in Detroit, it is a big deal to have something made around here, and it is cool to have a mazda made here.