Mazda Corporation History

Fuchu , Hiroshima , Japan

The company Mazda Motor Corporation (マツダ株式会社), is Japanese automobile manufacturer based in Fuchū since the 1930s. 

History

Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda as Toyo Cork Kogyō KK ( 東洋 コ ル 工業 株式会社 ) and dedicated to the refinement of cork. 1927, the company was changed in Toyo Kogyō KK. Machine parts were first manufactured in 1928, and from 1930 motorcycles were also produced. From this point on, the name "Mazda" was used. 

By The mid-1930s, the development of motorized 3-wheel cars and trucks. During the Second World War, the company was involved in Japanese Armor. In 1950, Mazda resumed manufacturing small trucks with three or four wheels. Mazda played a key role after the nuclear attack on Hiroshima in 1945: the production plants and many vehicles inside survived the destruction thanks to a mountain placed in front of the explosion site, suffering very limited damage compared to the city. It is no coincidence that the plant became one of the main logistic points for the relief and subsequent reconstruction of Hiroshima.

By 1960 the first Mazda car appeared in Japan on the market the Mazda R360. In October 1960, Tsuneji Matsuda concluded a license agreement with the German company NSU for the use and further development of Wankel engines. This was approved in July 1961 by the Japanese government.  From 1967 was Mazda 110 S Cosmo produced by a two-rotor Wankel engine. In April 1986, Mazda had produced 1.5 million vehicles with Wankel engine. 

The Japanese company, which basically began to export its cars significantly abroad as well. Cars were equipped with both piston and rotary engines, trying to meet the needs of the world market. In 1968 Mazda began formal exports to Canada although Mazda’s had been on Canadian roads since the late 1950s. In 1970, Mazda also formally entered the US market and was immediately successful. The company quickly designed and produced the Mazda Rotary Pickup based on the more conventional piston-engine Mazda B exclusively for the North American market. 

The 1973 energy crisis led US motorists to abandon Mazda's particularly fuel-intensive rotary engines. The car market was in fact evolving, with consumers particularly worried by now also about the fuel consumption of the cars they bought. Mazda found itself to be the Japanese company with the lowest productivity and Toyo Kogo found itself in 1975 on the brink. The company was saved by the intervention of Japanese banks. Following the Asian automobile financial crisis of 1997 Ford was forced to invest again in Mazda, The Ford Motor Company bought in 1979 25 percent stake in Mazda and 1996 increased its stake to 33.4 percent in 2008 but later sold 20 percent shares and in 2010 this again was reduced to 3.5 percent. Again, Ford In 2015, it sold its remaining interest and is no longer involved in the company. 

In addition to the models shared with Ford, Mazda subsequently has the credit of producing the MX-5, which will become the best-selling roadster in the world, the first version of which dates back to 1989. In 1991, Mazda also achieved the breakthrough in motorsport. Mazda's first Mazda 787B, powered by a 700hp 4-wheel Wankel engine, was the first Japanese automaker to win victory in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, two laps ahead of Jaguar.

In August 2017 5% of Mazda is acquired by Toyota.

Some Mazda Models overview

• Mazda R 360 (1960-1964)
• Mazda Carol (since 1962, only in Japan)
• Mazda 800 / Mazda 1000 / Mazda 1300 (1963-1977)
• Mazda 1500 / Mazda 1800
• Mazda 121 (1988-2003)
• Mazda 323 (1977-2003)
• Mazda 616 (1970-1977)
• Mazda 626 (1979-2002)
• Mazda 818 (1973-1979)
• Mazda 929 (1973-1992)
• Mazda Xedos 6 (1992-1999)
• Mazda Xedos 9 (1993-2002)
• Mazda MX-3 (1991-1998)
• Mazda MX-6 (1987-1997)
• Mazda MPV (1988-2016, in Germany only from 1994 to 2005)
• Mazda Premacy (1999-2005)
• Mazda Tribute (2000-2008)
• Mazda Demio (1996-2003)
• Mazda B-Series (1994-2006)
• Mazda CX-7 (2006-2012)
• Mazda5 (2005-2015)

Models with Wankel engine

• Mazda 110 S Cosmo Sport (1967-1972) first wankel with two-disc engine
• Mazda R100 (1968-1975)
• Mazda R130 (1969-1972) Coupe with 13A Wankel engine
• Mazda RX-2 (1971-1974)
• Mazda RX-3 (1972-1977) versions coupe, sedan and caravan
• Mazda RX-4 (1972-1977) versions coupe, sedan and caravan
• Mazda rotary pickup (1973-1977) sold only in the US
• Mazda Parkway Rotary 26 (1974-1976) first bus with Wankel engine
• Mazda Road Pacer AP (1975-1977)
• Mazda RX-5 (1975-1981)
• Mazda Luce Legato (1977-1981) top version 929L
• Mazda Cosmo AP RX-5 (1981-1990)
• Mazda Luce (1981-1986) top version 929
• Mazda 929 Cosmo (1982-1987)
• Mazda Luce (1986-1991) top version 929
• Eunos Cosmo (1990-1995) upper classes - Coupe, first serial car with three-disc Wankel engine
• Mazda RX-7 (1978-2002) SA (FB), FC, FD series
• Mazda RX-8 (2003-2012)