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AutoAlliance Celebrates Ten Years Of Production

4 September 1997

AutoAlliance Celebrates Ten Years Of Production

    FLAT ROCK, Mich., Sept. 4 -- AutoAlliance International
celebrated its tenth anniversary of production today with a special ceremony
launching the new 1998 Mazda 626.
    Since the first Mazda rolled off the line on September 1, 1987, the plant
has built more than 1.7 million vehicles, including 896,460 Ford Probes,
572,025 Mazda 626s, and 248,656 Mazda MX-6s.  It has purchased more than
$13 billion in local components, and paid out $1.5 billion dollars in payroll.
    The internal company ceremony, attended by plant employees, featured
members of the AutoAlliance Board of Directors, including AAI board chairman
and Mazda Motor Corporation Managing Director Kei Kado, Ford Motor Company
Vice-Chairman Wayne Booker as well as Flat Rock Mayor Richard Jones and UAW
International Assistant Director Frank Howe.
    In his remarks Booker announced that the Flat Rock facility will be the
sole manufacturing plant for the all-new 1999 Mercury Cougar, which begins
production next year.
    AutoAlliance started operations as Mazda Motor Manufacturing (USA)
Corporation, a solely-owned subsidiary of Mazda Motor Corporation.  Mazda made
history with its decision to locate in the Detroit area, the heart of the auto
industry, and its willingness to work with the United Auto Workers.  In 1992,
Ford Motor Company purchased a 50 percent equity stake in the company and it
was renamed AutoAlliance International.
    Approximately 3,100 people work at the plant, including 2,670 hourly and
430 salaried employees.

SOURCE  AutoAlliance International