Mazda has said it will produce 7,832 fewer cars this month because of a fire that broke out on December 15 at one of its plants in southwestern Japan.

Ujina No. 1 factory, which accounts for 30% of Mazda's production capacity in Japan, will remain closed for the rest of the calendar year, a spokeswoman said. The plant, which can make 268,000 vehicles a year, makes the Demio compact car as well as other models.

Mazda, which has a domestic production capacity of 898,000 vehicles a year, on December 17 said it was still investigating what caused the fire, which burned for seven hours. Thinner used to clean pipes was ignited, the local fire department said.