Mazda completes global parts hub

Mazda Motor Corporation has completed a new logistics center at Hiroshima Port in Japan, with operations scheduled to begin in January 2027 to support the automaker’s vehicle production facilities outside its home market.

The Japanese automaker held a completion ceremony on 6 November for the Mazda KD Center in the Dejima district of Hiroshima City. The facility will handle knockdown or KD parts, which Mazda ships to its overseas factories for vehicle assembly.

The new center replaces an older facility in the Kaita district of Hiroshima Port. Its location provides better access to the port’s international container terminal, which has undergone improvements to accommodate larger cargo vessels.

Construction began in April 2025, and the project was completed this month. The center occupies approximately 55,000 square meters of land, equivalent to 5.5 hectares, while its main building covers about 35,000 square meters.

Mazda Logistics Co. Ltd. will operate the facility.

One of the main changes from the previous center is the greater use of automation. Machines will handle storing and retrieving parts, along with preparing pallets for shipment. These systems are expected to reduce manual handling and help workers process shipments more efficiently.

The building also has separate routes for pedestrians and vehicles to reduce the risk of accidents. Zoned air-conditioning systems control temperatures across different work areas.

Truck drivers who deliver components from suppliers will also encounter a different process. Mazda has simplified entry procedures and assigned dedicated forklift operators to unload deliveries.

Drivers can use a lounge while their trucks are unloaded instead of having to assist with the work themselves. Mazda expects these arrangements to shorten unloading times and reduce the physical demands on drivers.

The facility also has rooftop solar panels with a total generation capacity of 2.2 megawatts. The electricity from these panels will supply part of the center’s power requirements, although Mazda has not disclosed how much of its total consumption will come from solar energy.

At the completion ceremony, Mazda managing executive officer and chief supply chain officer Kazuhiko Sumi spoke about the importance of Hiroshima to the company’s worldwide manufacturing operations.

Sumi said the new center would strengthen the connection between Mazda’s Japanese operations and its overseas production sites. He also emphasized that the movement of components plays a direct role in the quality of vehicles eventually delivered to customers.REAR styling of the VinFast VF 8 features a full-width LED light strip and the brand’s illuminated V emblem.

The project comes as Hiroshima Port continues to improve its cargo facilities. The national government and Hiroshima Prefecture have supported the development of the Dejima container terminal to increase the port’s capacity and accommodate larger ships.

These improvements give Mazda access to infrastructure better suited to international shipments, particularly the regular movement of vehicle components between Japan and overseas assembly plants.

With construction complete, the next step is to prepare the facility for its planned January 2027 opening. Once operational, it will serve as Mazda’s main logistics hub for KD parts destined for its production sites outside Japan.