Huntsville native among Mazda Toyota executive team

Mark Brazeal

A Huntsville native is among two new members named to the executive team of Huntsville's Mazda Toyota manufacturing plant.

Today the company announced that Ikuo Sugiyama has been named senior vice president of manufacturing, and Huntsville native Mark Brazeal will serve as vice president of administration.

According to the company, Sugiyama previously served as plant manager for Mazda's Hiroshima plant. He will be responsible for manufacturing operations at Mazda Toyota.

Brazeal comes from Toyota Motor North America, where he served in general manager roles at the company's engine plants in Huntsville, and West Virginia. He earned a management degree from the University of Alabama in 1991. He will lead all administration operations for the joint-venture, the company said.

"Starting up a new plant represents Mazda's and Toyota's commitment to investing in the U.S.," Brazeal said in a statement. "In addition to building vehicles where they are sold, we also want to create a plant in which our community and employees are proud. This is an exciting time for Mazda and Toyota and I am equally excited for the opportunity to serve MTMUS and be part of the Mazda Toyota team."

In March, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing USA, Inc., or (MTMUS), announced Masashi Aihara as president and Hironori Kagohashi as executive vice president. Construction on the $1.6 billion factory is scheduled to begin later this year and open in 2021. It will have the capacity to produce 150,000 units of a Mazda crossover model to be introduced to the North American market and 150,000 units of the Toyota Corolla.

The facility is expected to create up to 4,000 jobs.

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