Mazda has reached a noteworthy milestone, rolling out the nine millionth unit from its Japanese plant, which has been operating since 1982.

The Hofu-based plant, which has been a manufacturing centre for the brand for 28 years, has seen a considerable jump in production demand recently, specifically from eight million to nine million units in just two years. Presumably, the significant increase is chiefly attributable to the worldwide sales success of the acclaimed Mazda3 series.

Aptly, the automaker is elated to have reached this noteworthy sales landmark. Expressed publicly by the brand’s Executive Officer, Nariaki Uchida, the brand “…would like to thank all (our) valued customers, business partners and everyone in the Hofu community. Without your support, we would not be here today celebrating nine million units of production.”

The company is now adamantly focused on bigger and better things – namely, reaching ten millionth units. And it seems this target is well within reach, given the brand’s average 481,000-units-per-year average at both Hofu plants. If these figures are anything to go by, Mazda will be on track to reach this exceptional production mark in the next two to three years.