Mazda Motor Corp. announced that cumulative production of vehicle transmissions in the Nakanoseki district of its Hofu plant in Yamaguch reached 25 million units. In addition, the company announced plans to increase annual production capacity of automatic transmissions for front-wheel-drive models from 655,000 to 764,000 units in response to the global demand for the Mazda 3 and Mazda 5. According to the company's press release, the 25 million unit milestone was achieved in 24 years and 9 months since the Hofu plant began production in December 1981. After production of the automotive parts began in 1981, the Hofu Plant No. 1 was built in the Nishinoura district in 1982 for vehicle production. Hofu plant No. 2 was added in the Nishinoura district in 1992 for vehicle production.