Intro: The history of Mazda in Colombia goes back to the 1980s when the first dealership was set up. Later, in 1983 it was decided that an assembly plant should be established and it was realized with assistance from both Mazda Motor Corp. and Sumitomo Corp. In October, 1983 the first Mazda B-1600 rolled off the line in Bogota. Various other models, such as the 323, 626 were added to the portfolio and in 1992 export commenced to Venezuela and Ecuador.
But hard times fell upon the company two years later, when the devaluation of yen hit Mazda in Japan.
Between 1999-2000 the new 626 and the Allegro were introduced to the local market.
In May, 2002 Mazda Motor Corp. took over the shares of Sumitomo Corp. and became the sole owner of the company.
In 2003 1940 Mazda models were built, while three years later the plant churned out 14,555 vehicles, including Mazda, Mitsubishi and Ford products. |
