Mazda Motor Corporation has marked the completion of the new Mazda KD Center, located in the Dejima district of Hiroshima Port, Japan. Construction on the approximately 55,000-square-meter site began in April 2025 and concluded in November 2026, with operations officially scheduled to start in January 2027. The facility replaces the former KD center in the Kaita district and will act as the primary logistics hub supplying knockdown parts to all Mazda vehicle production sites outside Japan.

Facility Infrastructure and Automation

The newly established center features a building area of roughly 35,000 square meters and leverages the enhanced infrastructure of the Dejima district’s international container terminal. To improve operational efficiency and safety, the facility incorporates automated storage and retrieval of parts, alongside automated packing onto pallets. Internal traffic safety is managed by separating pedestrian and vehicle routes, and zoned air conditioning is installed throughout the building.

Supply Chain and Renewable Energy Integration

Logistics operations are further streamlined through dedicated forklift operators who unload delivery trucks, reducing truck driver workloads and shortening handling times. A dedicated driver lounge has also been provided. For environmental sustainability, the facility features rooftop solar panels with a generating capacity of 2.2 MW, supplying a portion of the electricity used on-site.

Relevance for European Readers

European automotive markets rely on a stable international supply chain for vehicle availability and parts distribution. Because this facility serves as the centralized origin point for knockdown parts shipped to Mazda’s overseas manufacturing plants, enhancements in logistics efficiency, port infrastructure utilization, and automation directly impact the steady flow of vehicle production and regional distribution channels worldwide.

Practical Takeaway

The Mazda KD Center in Hiroshima Port is scheduled to commence operations in January 2027, focusing on the receiving, storage, packing, and shipment of knockdown parts for international assembly operations, supported by on-site solar power generation and automated logistics workflows.

Source: Original report