The SKYACTIV transmission was first installed in the Mazda Axela (Mazda3) and it is now available in five different models. It will also be available in the new Mazda3 due to be launched globally from this autumn.

The transmissions are produced at the Hofu plant in Yamaguchi, Japan, with a current production capacity of 750,000 units annually. This will be increased to 1,140,000 units in July 2014.

The move comes as Mazda looks to drive global sales to 1.7 million vehicles annually by the fiscal year ending March 2016. A total of 80% of these vehicles are expected to feature SKYACTIV technology.

Nariaki Uchida, executive officer and general manager of the Hofu plant, commented: ‘Moving forward, Mazda is committed to delivering vehicles featuring SKYACTIV Technology to the greatest number of customers possible and to contribute to the further development of Yamaguchi prefecture and the city of Hofu.’

In addition, Mazda will construct a new transmission plant in Thailand with an annual production capacity of around 400,000 units. Operations at the new plant are expected to begin in the first half of the fiscal year ending March 2016.