Production of Mazda's compact crossover may soon be transferred to Thailand after Nikkei Asian Review reported that the Japanese plants are nearing full capacity to meet domestic demand.

AutoAlliance in Rayong, Thailand will be where the CX-3 will apparently undergo factory line assembling, alongside the Mazda3, BT-50 and Mazda2. The transfer of production could happen later this year.

Currently, the CX-3 is assembled at Mazda's Hiroshima plant where other models such as the Mazda6, MX-5, CX-5 and CX-9 are also being produced. Apart from auto manufacturing the Hiroshima plant is also where the company builds their engines and transmissions.

The other Japanese plants are also near full capacity including the Hofu and Miyoshi facilities. The Hofu plant currently produces both the Mazda3 and Mazda6 while the Miyoshi plant is strictly an engine manufacturing factory.

Originally, the CX-3 was to be completely built in Japan, but with growing demand of the CX-5 and other models for the domestic market, the automaker is seriously considering production of the compact crossover to Thailand as the next best thing in order to lessen the burden on Japanese factories.

The Mazda CX-3 is expected to arrive in the Philippines by 2016 after Steven Tan, President of Mazda Philippines, stated that the company is pondering to bring it to the country. Tan added that the likelihood of the CX-3 being sold in the Philippines is "better than 50%".

Source: Nikkei Asian Review