Mazda has opened a parts distribution centre (PDC) in Thailand and has designated the country as its main hub for ASEAN exports. The centre in Samut Prakan, in the Bangna district, has been set up by Mazda Logistics & Yusen (Asia), a joint venture between Mazda Sales Thailand and Yusen Logistics (Thailand).
The facility has a total warehouse space of approximately 22,300 sq.m and will stock up to 53,000 parts. It will serve 125 Mazda service centres nationwide and receive parts from around 260 suppliers.
Six trucks are running two deliveries per day to Bangkok while service centres further north get one delivery per day. The centre also exports parts to overseas markets, including ASEAN and global markets further afield. Among the major parts being shipped out are those for the BT-50 pickup and Mazda2 subcompact.
“The new parts distribution centre will help us to dramatically improve our parts management, since we can fully control all the operation on our own,” said Hidesuke Takesue, president of Mazda Sales (Thailand). “The Asia-Pacific market, which includes Thailand and other ASEAN countries that all have high potential in economic growth, is undeniably the largest market for Mazda to grow our business, and we believe that the new parts distribution centre will significantly contribute to increased customer satisfaction as the regional operation centre."
Mazda reports that last year its operations in Thailand sold Bt1.7 billion worth of spare parts to the domestic market ($50m) and Bt800m for exports to more than 100 countries.
It has invested an additional Bt10 billion to start production of the all new Mazda2 under the Thai government’s Eco Car Phase 2 programme.
The carmaker has plans to increase exports with the opening of its gearbox plant in Chon Buri and its first engine plant, which will be built by the end of this year.
Between 2005 to 2015 Mazda reports having sold a total of 320,000 vehicles in Thailand and is supporting the growth in car sales in the country with its aftersales service.
“High-quality parts management, as well as speedy parts delivery to customers, is very important,” said Takesue. “So by having logistics expert Yusen Group as our partner, we are able to swiftly deliver parts to dealerships in every area,” he said.
