SHANGHAI (AFX) - Mazda Motor Co Ltd, Japan's fourth-largest automaker, said it is consolidating its China business, where it operates with four partners, the Shanghai Daily reported, citing a copmpany official.

'Although it has not been long since Mazda came to China, we think a consolidation of the partnerships would help to realize our sales targets,' He Miao, assistant to the spokesman of Mazda Motor Shanghai Consulting Co, told the paper.

The move comes after production of its newly introduced Mazda 3 compact car was halted at Chang'an Ford Mazda Corp plant in April, one month after the model hit the market, the paper said.

The firm did not give an explanation for the production halt.

'We are actively solving the problem now but have no schedule for restarting,' He told the paper.

The company currently has four partners in China - First Automotive Works Group, Chang'an Automobile Group, Hainan Automobile Corp as well as Ford Motor Corp, the company's biggest shareholder.