The Colombian government has begun talks with Japanese automaker Mazda to explore the possibility of resuming vehicle assembly in the South American country, 12 years after the company closed its local production plant.
The initiative includes the possibility of reestablishing an industrial facility and creating investment, employment, and business opportunities for Colombian suppliers of auto parts and other components.
The Ministry of Commerce and the government agency ProColombia met with Mazda representatives in Bogota on Thursday, October 8, as part of official efforts to attract Japanese investment. However, the company has not announced any corporate decision regarding the resumption of vehicle assembly in Colombia.
Automotive industry experts point out that any potential project will depend on feasibility studies and the company’s investment plans.
The Government seeks to attract new industrial investment
Commerce Minister Mauricio Gomez Amin explained that the meeting resulted from contacts established during a Colombian government mission to Tokyo in August. The talks focused on identifying investment opportunities and the conditions that could encourage Mazda to resume manufacturing operations in the country.
“We went to Tokyo a few weeks ago and said we wanted to see Mazda in Colombia. Here they are. Here we are talking with them, opening the country’s doors to them and telling them we want them back in Colombia,” Gomez Amin said.
The official also expressed the government’s willingness to support a potential industrial project and highlighted the importance of ensuring legal certainty, physical security, and clear rules for long-term investments. “As minister, I will do whatever it takes to get them to set up their plant here in Colombia,” he said.
In addition to the possibility of reopening an assembly facility, the talks include cooperation with domestic suppliers and the development of the auto parts industry. Colombian companies could find opportunities to supply accessories, spare parts, and components, as well as to join regional automotive supply chains.
The government believes that a project of this kind would help strengthen domestic manufacturing, create jobs, and expand business opportunities for local companies. However, these potential benefits remain contingent on the outcome of the negotiations and Mazda’s assessment of the commercial and industrial feasibility of returning to local production.
Colombia pasa del compromiso a los hechos: avanzan las conversaciones para el regreso de Mazda al país.
Tras los acercamientos realizados en Tokio, nos reunimos con representantes de Mazda para explorar nuevas oportunidades de inversión industrial, una posible planta de ensamblaje y la vinculación de proveedores colombianos.
Junto a @PROCOLOMBIACO, trabajamos para generar confianza inversionista, fortalecer la industria automotriz y abrir nuevas oportunidades de producción y empleo.
En el marco de la Misión Crecer, impulsada por el presidente @ABDELAESPRIELLA, seguimos trabajando para convertir el interés internacional en proyectos que contribuyan al crecimiento económico de Colombia.
¡La Patria Milagro se construye con hechos, inversión y oportunidades para los colombianos!
— Mauricio Gómez Amín (@MauricioGomezCO) October 8, 2026
Why Mazda left Colombia in 2014
Mazda stopped assembling vehicles in Colombia in 2014, when it closed the Compañía Colombiana Automotriz (CCA) plant in Bogota. The facility had been an important part of the country’s automotive industry, but changes in market conditions reduced the competitiveness of local production.
The closure was linked to a decline in exports to neighboring markets and the lower costs associated with importing fully assembled vehicles. Since then, Mazda has maintained its commercial presence in Colombia by importing cars rather than manufacturing them in the country.
Currently, the company sells vehicles imported from Japan and Mexico and maintains a network of dealerships and showrooms across Colombia.
A potential return to manufacturing would therefore represent a major change in Mazda’s operations in Colombia. It could also create opportunities for domestic suppliers if the company decides to establish a new industrial operation or develop a broader local supply network.
Talks in Japan remain exploratory, with no final decision yet
President Abelardo de la Espriella announced on August 30 that his administration was working to bring Mazda vehicle assembly back to Colombia. The initiative is part of a broader strategy to attract foreign investment and strengthen economic ties with Japan.
During the August mission to Tokyo, Gomez Amin also pushed for efforts to reactivate the Economic Partnership Agreement between Colombia and Japan, negotiations for which had been stalled for approximately 15 years.
The minister met with Japanese officials, including Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Toshiro Ino and Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi, to discuss resuming negotiations and advancing the bilateral economic agenda.
The government aims to attract Japanese capital to various sectors, including manufacturing, electric mobility, energy, digital infrastructure, innovation, and technology. It has also mentioned the possibility of Toyota evaluating projects related to electric vehicles in Colombia, an initiative separate from the talks with Mazda.
For now, discussions with Mazda remain at an exploratory stage. Yesterday’s meeting marks progress in the government’s efforts to turn previous outreach into concrete investment opportunities, but it does not guarantee that the Japanese automaker will reopen an assembly plant in Colombia.
The next steps will depend on technical and commercial assessments, the conditions offered by the Colombian government, and Mazda’s corporate decisions. Nevertheless, a potential return by the Japanese brand to Colombia now appears to be one step closer than it was yesterday.