Mazda has begun building its next generation CX-5 compact SUV that will arrive in 2017 with an optional diesel engine, Mazda has announced.

Production has begun at the Ujina Plant No. 2 in Hiroshima, Japan. The vehicle will go on sale in Japan in February and roll out to other global markets later in the year.

The CX-5 is entering its second generation with an optional diesel engine, styling updates, and additional technology features such as the latest version of radar cruise control and traffic sign recognition. Mazda unveiled the vehicle at the Los Angeles Auto Show.

Mazda added the compact SUV to its lineup when it began production on the initial model in November of 2011. By April of 2015, Mazda had built 1 million units. By October, Mazda had built 1.57 million CX-5 vehicles. The model now makes up about a quarter of the company's total sales volume.