The Probe was a joint venture between Ford and Mazda. It marked the first time a Japanese automaker had come into Detroit's backyard to produce a car for a U.S. affiliate. It was manufactured at the new $550 million AutoAlliance International Incorporated assembly plant in Flat Rock, Michigan, right along side Mazda's MX-6 and 626 coupes with which it shared most of its understructure. (edit this text)