A new Mazda car model, CX5, is rolled out at the Chu Lai-Truong Hai Industrial Complex in Quang Nam Province. 16,500 Mazda cars were sold in the first six months of 2018. — VNS Photo Cong Thanh

Truong Hai Automobile Joint-Stock company (Thaco) has sold 16,500 Mazda cars in Viet Nam in the first six months of the year, marking it as the second best-selling Japanese car brand in Viet Nam, according to the Viet Nam Automobile Manufacture Association.

Thaco said about 100,000 Mazda cars has been delivered to customers in Viet Nam market since the brand was locally manufactured in 2011.

Thaco, in co-operation with Japan’s Mazda Motor Corporation, has introduced 44 showrooms, of which 33 are international standard, nationwide.

Earlier this year, Thaco and Mazda put a new plant for auto exports into operation in the Chu Lai-Truong Hai Industrial Complex in Quang Nam Province, at a total investment of US$380 million.

The new Mazda plant is expected to produce 100,000 Mazda cars per year with a localisation ratio (local made spare parts and accessories) of 44 per cent.

The Japanese car maker is also boosting links with Thaco in the production of spare parts and accessories.

Mazda has introduced several car models in Viet Nam market including the CUV (Crossover Utility Vehicle) CX-5, pick-up BT50, Mazda3, Mazda2 and Mazda 6.

Thaco has invested $400 million in constructing a logistics centre, car production factories, a vocational training college, a seaport, storage facilities and shipping services.

It sold 112,000 trucks, vans and commercial cars for revenue of $2.8 billion in 2017.

The local automobile producer currently manufactures and distributes Korea’s Kia model, Japan’s Mazda and France’s Peugeot and BMW. — VNS