Updated: January 10, 2018

ALABAMA GOVERNOR KAY IVEY AND HUNTSVILLE MAYOR TOMMY BATTLE JOINED MAZDA AND TOYOTA LEADERS TODAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT THE AUTOMAKERS HAVE SELECTED HUNTSVILLE AS THE SITE OF THEIR NEW JOINT VENTURE MANUFACTURING PLANT. THE NEW PLANT, WHICH WILL BE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 14 MILES FROM TOYOTA'S ALABAMA PLANT, WILL HAVE THE CAPACITY TO BUILD THREE HUNDRED THOUSAND VEHICLE ANNUALLY, WITH PRODUCTION SPLIT BETWEEN TWO LINES FOR EACH COMPANY TO PRODUCE MAZDA'S CROSSOVER MODEL AND THE TOYOTA COROLLA. THE JOINT VENTURE REPRESENTS A 1.6 BILLION DOLLAR INVESTMENT AND IS EXPECTED TO CREATE UP TO FOUR THOUSAND JOBS. PRODUCTION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN BY 2021.