Mazda5 MPV to start production in China this year

"In order to better compete in the MPV market, the second generation Mazda 5 will start production by the end of this year," said Yu Hongjiang, Vice-president from FAW Mazda Motor Co.,Ltd,.

Compared with Mazda 2 and Mazda 3 which were produced at Chang'an Ford Mazda plant, FAW CAR company mainly focuses on high-end Mazda models, including Mazda 5, Mazda 6 and Mazda 8. According to Mazda's long term plan, the Japanese company aims to bring 8 new models to the Chinese market over the next two years, while sales are expected to reach 300,000 by 2010, a huge increase over the 100,000 units in 2006.

The Mazda5 (formerly known as Mazda Premacy in its home market and in Europe) is a compact MPV built by the Japanese manufacturer Mazda since 1999, while the second generation Mazda 5 went into production in 2005.

In the European market the Mazda5 fits seven passengers which mean the car has three rows of two seats, with the seventh seat a clever fold away jump seat in the centre of the middle row. Mazda has managed to use proper three point seat belts on all seven seats and avoided resorting to a lap only belt on the seventh seat.

The middle row of seats recline and slide front-to-rear, and fold flat to ease cargo loading. The rear row also folds flat.

Mazda5 offers front-to-back roof rails, CD player, a back-up camera, power-assist side doors and even 4 choices of engine (two fuels and two diesels). A second-row DVD entertainment system was eventually offered as a dealer installed add-on.