BAuto Mulling ‘Low-Volume’ CKD Production for Mazda CX-60 & CX-80

BAuto is mulling a low-volume CKD production for its new Mazda CX-60 & CX-80, plus several new variants in the future.

Bermaz Auto Berhad (BAuto) is considering a low-volume local production (CKD) for its newly-launched flagship SUV duo, the Mazda CX-60 & CX-80. Arriving in their fully-imported (CBU) guises today, these two SUVs might be locally assembled at the Inokom Kulim production facility along with other existing CKD Mazda models like the CX-5 and CX-30.

BAuto Executive Chairman Tan Sri Dato' Sri Ben Yeoh (second from left)

Speaking to the media at the Mazda CX-60 media drive event yesterday, BAuto executive chairman Tan Sri Dato’ Sri Ben Yeoh said that the company is mulling a smaller-scale CKD operation for these two Mazda SUVs in a bid to lower their prices and make them more accessible to Malaysian consumers.

“There’s a possibility that we are also looking at a low-volume production, and they (Mazda Motor Corporation) have looked into the possibility of a low-volume manufacturing (for the Mazda CX-60 & CX-80),” the chairman said.

With BAuto’s current CKD operation in Inokom Kulim being done on a larger scale, Tan Sri Ben did add that in order to accommodate for the low-volume CKD productions, the company might need to change its whole manufacturing system, plus the addition of new test equipment and tools for these two new SUVs.

“When we say low-volume manufacturing, it means that we have to change our whole manufacturing system. And with the introduction of new test equipment and tooling for these next-gen models (CX-60 & CX-80), we might be able to do small-volume manufacturing for these models at our Inokom Kulim facility,” Tan Sri Ben continued.

Commenting on the single-variant offering for the CX-60 instead of more options, the chairman says that there’s a possibility that its lineup will be expanded in the near future to accommodate more powertrain options and trim levels, depending on the reception of customers for the model.

He further added that the lineup expansion would be more possible if BAuto managed to get the CKD operation for the CX-60 going.

“Yes, there’s always a possibility for us to upgrade (the CX-60) when we do the local assembly. Right now in its CBU form, it is quite hard (for us to spec the car accordingly).

“We must be responsible when we introduce a product into the market, especially with their price points,” the chairman added.

In its current form, the fully-imported Mazda CX-60 (RM198,900) is only available in a single 2.5G 2WD High guise, featuring a tried-and-tested 2.5-ltire 4-cyl nat-asp Skyactiv-G engine producing 189 hp and 216 Nm. Said engine is mated to a new 8-speed automatic gearbox that sends power exclusively to the rear wheels (RWD).

Meanwhile, the Mazda CX-80 is offered in a single 2.5G PHEV AWD High Plus variant, priced at RM330,000. As its name suggests, the CX-80 uses a 2.5-litre 4-cyl plug-in hybrid system with an all-wheel drive (AWD) setup that delivers a combined output of 323 hp and 500 Nm.