Mazda assembly line rolls off vehicles at rate of one every 54 seconds

Well done Mazda.

How well does the 54 seconds rank globally?

54 secs means nothing! if the the line is three days long from start to finish. they're just headline grabbing.

I love Mazdas and have owned three of them. They are as reliable as the big name makers and much more fun to drive. The new Mazda 6 is one of the best looking cars on the road. I hope the company can continue this pattern.

The new Mazda 6 is one of the best looking cars on the road.

I have to agree with you there. It's an absolutely beautiful car - at least on the outside. The interior isn't bad, but doesn't do the gorgeous exterior justice.

Mazda still produces 60% of its vehicles in Japan. Of the vehicles produced at Hofu, 94% are exports. That has left Mazda vulnerable in periods when the yen is strong.

With the weak Yen these are the sort of companies that should be doing well exporting. Mazda has always been known as a drivers car (spirited driving).

http://www.mazda.com/mazdaspirit/skyactiv/engine/ (have that diesel car coming to the US also)

Mazda diesel possible problems: http://forum.mazda6club.com/mazda-6-3rd-generation-2013-present/264345-2014-mazda6-diesel-serious-problems.html

Mazda, one of the best vehicles in New Zealand. a great car, I love both of mine, great cars, 2 Masaa 6

The new Mazda 6 is one of the best looking cars on the road

Agree 100%. It has personality - feel like looking at a Bim. Now if only they offered RWD model, I would be all over it.

Are they still doing the Wankel Rotaries, or did they get cut with all this "shared platform" biz? Now that was a real good engine, didn't last forever, but went like the clappers!

A quite while ago, there were Kanebo, Kyowa Hakko and Japan Salt on seaside of Hofu,Yamaguchi Prefecture. Japanese Govt's sea salt business was gone. So, Matsuda established its factory there. Quite clever movement by Hofu City which used to depend on tourists spending from Miyaichi Tenmangu Festivals. So, Matsuda Hofu is the place where it create a car less than 1 minute 24 hours a day? The system can be used in Matsuda Mexico? UAW killer system.

Are they still doing the Wankel Rotaries, or did they get cut with all this "shared platform" biz?

RX8 and many rotaries have the issue with burning oil, fouling plugs, + low mpg. One of the best driving perfectly balanced cars though. You can get them cheap from people that give up. Don't like a rotary get the Honda S2000 --> never got much better than that.

http://www.transportationinjapan.com/cars/a-more-efficient-mazda-rotary-engine-could-be-back-in-five-years/

There is the triple scroll Eunos Cosmo also. Rotary Engines make the best drag engine cars.

54 sec a car means average production rate of each car. Just like production rate of wrapped candies that do not compute how each candy was made or wrappers are made. Just production rate of finished car to be marketed.

You can get them cheap from people that give up.

Very true. You can get a used RX-8 at a bargain price. Maintenance and running costs are higher than other cars, but since your saving a lot on the car itself, everything works out even in the end. It's even a fairly practical family car with enough leg room in the back for 2 kids. Last of all, despite its age, it's still a good looking and great sounding car. Doesn't get much better than that.

Very true. You can get a used RX-8 at a bargain price. Maintenance and running costs are higher than other cars, but since your saving a lot on the car itself, everything works out even in the end. It's even a fairly practical family car with enough leg room in the back for 2 kids. Last of all, despite its age, it's still a good looking and great sounding car. Doesn't get much better than that.

I heard stories of couple of owners had to swap the whole engine - that's why used RX-8 price is low. It looks great, sounds great, but incurs high maintenance. I think getting a Miata is a better deal.

I heard stories of couple of owners had to swap the whole engine - that's why used RX-8 price is low

Unfortunately that's always a risk. It all depends how well the old owner maintained his/her car, and that's pretty hard, if not impossible to gauge from a test drive or two...