Ford and Mazda to Invest US$350 Million in AutoAlliance Thailand to Build Next Generation Compact Pickup Truck

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Bangkok--26 Aug--Hill & Knowlton

New investment underscores commitment to the world-class AAT production facility - Ford and Mazda will invest US$350 million in the compact pickup plant at the joint venture AutoAlliance Thailand facility in Rayong, Thailand. - The new joint investment will support production of Mazda and Ford’s next generation compact pickup trucks, and reaffirms the on-going strategic relationship between Ford and Mazda. - The upgraded AAT pickup facility is scheduled to begin manufacturing Mazda and Ford’s next generation compact pickups in mid-2011. Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation will invest US$350 million in their AutoAlliance Thailand (AAT) joint venture to support the production of next generation pickup trucks. The investment will enable production of the new Mazda and Ford compact pickups to commence in mid-2011. The US$350 million investment reinforces Ford and Mazda’s long-term joint commitment to Thailand. The investment will support facility upgrades and supplier tooling for the production of Mazda and Ford’s next generation compact pickup trucks. Once completed, this will increase Mazda and Ford’s total joint investment in the AutoAlliance Thailand facility to more than US$1.85 billion since operations began in 1995. “Today’s investment announcement marks another important step forward in AAT’s development as a state-of-the-art manufacturing hub,” said Toshinori Kusuhashi, president, AutoAlliance Thailand. "Through the ongoing support of the Thai government, Thailand’s automotive industry has continued to grow and become more efficient, enabling AAT to build and export world-class pickup trucks and cars. This new investment will enable us to continue to enhance the one-ton pickup’s reputation as product champion of Thailand’s automotive industry.” The investment program will also dedicate resources to workforce training and development to ensure that AAT employees have the skills required to meet the high standards the new compact pickup truck program will require. "This new investment in AAT reinforces Ford Motor Company's long-term commitment to Thailand as a strategic manufacturing base for our global operations," said Joe Hinrichs, President of Ford Motor Company, Asia Pacific and Africa. "The new production line, with the support of the hard working employees at AAT, and the continued commitment of our Thai suppliers, will raise the bar in flexibility, efficiency, quality and environmentally-friendly production at AAT.” AutoAlliance Thailand, already one of the most modern automotive manufacturing facilities in Thailand, has helped to set the standard for automotive manufacturing in the ASEAN region through its ongoing commitment to world-class quality, standards and cost-competitiveness. “The new investment means that AAT will continue to be a global center of excellence for the production of both brands’ compact pickup trucks, and play an important role in Mazda’s global strategy,” said Masaharu Yamaki, Mazda’s representative director, executive vice president, assistant to the president, with oversight of R&D, Production, Purchasing and Quality. AAT successfully exports Ford and Mazda pickup trucks to more than 130 markets around the world. In July 2007, AutoAlliance Thailand celebrated one million units of production since the facility began manufacturing vehicles in 1998. A new state-of-the-art passenger car plant was opened in July 2009 and is currently producing the Mazda2 and Ford Fiesta for sale in Thailand as well as for export to ASEAN and other markets. About Ford Motor Company Ford Motor Company, a global automotive industry leader based in Dearborn, Mich., manufactures or distributes automobiles across six continents. With about 159,000 employees and about 70 plants worldwide, the company’s automotive brands include Ford, Lincoln and Mercury, production of which has been announced by the company to be ending in the fourth quarter of 2010. The company provides financial services through Ford Motor Credit Company. For more information regarding Ford’s products, please visit www.ford.com. About Mazda Motor Corporation Established in 1920, Mazda Motor Corporation is headquartered in Hiroshima, Japan. Mazda is a global company supported by a following of admiring customers in more than 130 countries. Mazda’s international success is also founded on a global production network comprising two main plants in Japan and 10 other facilities located around the globe. For more information about Mazda, please visit www.mazda.com About AutoAlliance Thailand AutoAlliance Thailand Co., Ltd. (AAT) was established in November 1995 as a joint venture between Mazda Motor Corporation and Ford Motor Company to produce vehicles for both domestic and international export markets. Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation are equal equity partners in this jointly managed facility.

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