Mazda Holds Opening Ceremony for Mine Proving Ground

	
Tokyo, Japan, May. 18, 2006 - (JCN Newswire) - Mazda Motor Corporation
held an opening ceremony today to mark the start of
operations of its new vehicle testing ground - named the Mine Proving
Ground -in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, in western Japan. 

Distinguished guests from local government authorities, including the
Deputy Governor of Yamaguchi Prefecture, Shigeji Wataya, and the Mayor
of Mine (pronounced 'me-nay') City, Nobuo Kotake, attended the ceremony.
Mazda President and CEO Hisakazu Imaki was also present, along with
other senior Mazda executives. 

"The Mine Proving Ground will play a very important role for Mazda in
promoting the 'reinforcement of R&D,' one of the Mazda Momentum mid-term
business plan's four key measures. It will function as another vehicle
testing facility to complement the existing Miyoshi Proving Ground.
After the Hofu plant, it is Mazda's second major business installation
in the Yamaguchi area, which is what we are commemorating today with
this opening ceremony. Mazda looks forward to the future growth and
prosperity of Yamaguchi Prefecture, assisted by the contributions of
these two business establishments," said Mazda CEO and President,
Hisakazu Imaki, during his opening remarks.

Mazda has a manufacturing site in Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture,
consisting of two vehicle assembly plants and one transmission assembly
plant. The Hofu plant complex is a core manufacturing site in the
region, accounting for approximately 71 percent of Hofu City's, and
roughly 13 percent of Yamaguchi Prefecture's, total value of
manufactured goods shipped. The establishment of the Mine Proving Ground
in Yamaguchi Prefecture reflects the increased importance of this area
for Mazda Motor Corporation.

Outline of Mine Proving Ground


1.Location:                  1173-1 Nagao, Nishiatsu-cho, Mine City, 
                             Yamaguchi Prefecture
2.Gross Area:                601,683m2
3.Facilities:  
 (1) Current facility 
   Total floor area:         6,128.91sq. meters (including all office
                             buildings and other equipment on the land) 
   Test course:              Driving course (3.3km), control tower,
multi-
                             purpose driving course for vehicle testing 
 (2) Facility expansion plan 
   Large turn:               To evaluate vehicle turning performance 
   High-speed flats:         To evaluate slalom performance 
   Mid-speed handling road:  To evaluate handling performance based on 
                             European specifications



About Mazda Motor Corporation

Mazda Motor Corporation started manufacturing tools in 1929
and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In
the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began
developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western
Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and
exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. Overseas
sales account for more than half of total turnover. Mazda has two main
production sites in Japan and 19 overseas facilities. Overseas sites
include joint ventures based in the United States, and in Thailand with
Ford Motor Company, Mazda's largest shareholder.

For further information, please visit the Mazda Motor Corporation home
page at: www.mazda.com/flash.html <http://www.mazda.com/flash.html> 

Contact
Mazda Motor Corporation
Ms. Mayumi Handa
+81-82-282-1111
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