HUNTSVILLE – Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (MTM) today hosted a Community Appreciation Event with a number of notable guests including Alabama Governor Kay Ivey, Mazda Motor Corporation CEO Akira Marumoto, and Toyota Motor Corporation CEO Akio Toyoda, as well as dozens of elected and community leaders, and Team ONE* partner companies who contributed to the successful start of MTM.

“MTM could not be where it is today without the commitment and support we received from our community, our government stakeholders, and our Team ONE partners,” said Masashi Aihara, President of MTM.
Eager to express its gratitude, MTM held the ceremony to share its appreciation with community guests, while bringing Governor Ivey together with leaders of Mazda and Toyota for the first time since its November 2018 groundbreaking. Governor Ivey, Secretary Greg Canfield, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Marumoto and Toyoda were invited to make remarks celebrating this exciting occasion. Prior to speakers’ remarks, MTM awarded $180,000 to 10 local nonprofits as part of its Inaugural Mazda Toyota Manufacturing Grant Fund.

“Mazda Toyota Manufacturing does more than just operate a world-class manufacturing facility in Alabama — these automakers have shown from day one that they were fully committed to community involvement,” said Governor Kay Ivey. “As today’s giving illustrates, they are making a real difference by supporting causes that are important in and around their Alabama hometown.”
MTM’s grant fund opened for applicants in March 2022 with partner The Community Foundation of Greater Huntsville, and offers support to local and regional organizations that serve their community through Education, Economic Impact and Quality of Life programming. MTM Grant Fund recipients included Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Agape of North Alabama, the United Way of Madison County, Drake State Technical College, Limestone County Career Technical Center, Madison County Career Tech Center, Madison City Schools, Athens State University Foundation, the Cap and Gown Project, and KTECH.

“MTM has been a strong community partner since its inception,” said Mayor Battle. “We have been excited and honored to celebrate each milestone with our friends and partners, and we look forward to many more years of collaboration, contribution and prosperity.”

MTM started production of the all-new Toyota Corolla Cross in September 2021, followed by the start of production for the all-new Mazda CX-50 in January 2022. MTM currently employs more than 3,200 team members, and will continue hiring an additional 800 through 2022. The $2.311 billion facility will have the capacity to assemble up to 300,000 SUVs once it reaches full production. Both the Corolla Cross and CX-50 are being produced and sold at dealerships across the country.