Mabuchi Motor has production facilities in Dong Nai City and Da Nang City, Vietnam, and is advancing localization as a core ASEAN base. Leveraging its three-site structure across China, Vietnam and Europe, the company is strengthening in-house component production and diversifying its procurement and supply network.
Mabuchi Motor, a global leader in small automotive motors, operates under a five-region structure covering Japan, China, ASEAN, the Americas and Europe. In ASEAN, it has positioned Dong Nai City and Da Nang City, Vietnam, as its main production bases. Dong Nai handles the production and development of small motors, while Da Nang is responsible for the manufacture and sales of medium-sized motors. In recent years, the company has also been working to expand its Life and Industry business.
The strength of Mabuchi Motor's Vietnam operations lies in their progress toward localization through locally led management and merit-based personnel evaluations. Local employees serve as representatives, while in-house production of components and more advanced production management have progressed, improving engineer retention. The company is advancing the development and promotion of local talent, in addition to personnel assignments from Japan.
Production transfers are driven by the need to establish multiple production routes in response to higher costs in China and the need to expand manufacturing capacity. Production is being distributed across China, Vietnam and Europe, with the Vietnam operations serving as an export base for finished products and also supplying components to group companies. Some key components are produced in-house in Vietnam.
On the procurement side, the company is developing suppliers within ASEAN with an emphasis on local production for local consumption, while recognizing the need to secure multiple sources in response to global conditions. Developments in the Middle East and fluctuations in crude oil prices are affecting the prices of resin materials, and the stable procurement of raw materials and components, including resin parts, is viewed as a challenge. Going forward, the company aims to expand high-value-added products centered on the three Ms: Machinery, Medical and Mobility.
As for the history of its local operations, the Malaysia operation was established in the 1990s and closed in 2011. Since then, ASEAN production has been consolidated in Vietnam, with operations established in Dong Nai in 1996 and Da Nang in 2005.