The story begins in 1920 when Jujiro Matsuda, (1875-1952) and a group of shareholders buy a cork company, and found the “Toyo Cork Kogyo Company Limited”.
The name Mazda comes from Ahura Mazda, the superior god of Persian Zoroastrianism. He was the god of reason, granted wisdom and united man with nature and other divinities. Mazda also remembers the surname of the founder of the Company, Jujiro Matsuda.
In 1927, Matsuda reformed the Company, calling himself “Toyo Kogyo Kaisha.
The timeline…
In 1929, the manufacture of tools and heavy machinery began.
By 1930 they had built 30 motorcycles.
In 1931 the first 3-wheeled commercial vehicle, the Mazdago, was built.
In 1960 the first car was introduced, the Mazda R360 2-seater Coupé.
In 1962 the Mazda Carol with 4 doors was introduced.
In 1963 production since the beginning exceeded 1,000,000 units.
In 1967 the first Mazda with a Wankel rotary engine was introduced, the Mazda Cosmo Sports 110S, (an engine that I had always bet on since I began working with the German company NSU/Wankel in 1961 on rotary engines. The latest evolution is the RENESIS engine that drives the RX-EVOLV prototype.)
In 1969 Mazda teamed up with Ford through a Joint Venture to manufacture automatic transmissions. (As a result of this collaboration, 10 years later Ford acquired a 25% stake in Mazda and the relationship has been largely consolidated ever since. AAI, the joint venture of both companies in the USA, has manufactured more than 2,000,000 vehicles since 1992).
In 1977 outstanding models were presented that contributed to establishing the current brand reputation, specifically the families (323 in Europe) and Capella (626 in Europe).
In 1978 the sports car tradition began with the Mazda RX-7.
In 1984 the name of the Company was changed to “Mazda Motor Corporation”.
In 1989, the world’s best-selling roadster, the Mazda MX-5, was launched, consolidating the brand’s sporting tradition.
In 1991 the 24 Hours of Le Mans are won with the Mazda 787B. To date it is the only victory of a Japanese brand in this prestigious race and of course of a rotary engine.
At the 1993 Frankfurt Motor Show, the prototype of the Xedos 9 was the subject of great expectation. Subsequently, the stylish and innovative Mazda Premacy was presented, which burst onto the market with great success.
Mazda has assembly plants in 21 countries and exports to 120 countries.
More than 35,000,000 vehicles have been manufactured by Mazda to date, making it one of the most prestigious car companies in the world.
If you still haven’t seen the Mazda you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to click on Mazda Matchbox.
