Mazda

Mazda Motor Corporation is a Japanese multinational automaker headquartered in Hiroshima. It designs, manufactures, and sells passenger cars, light trucks, and automobile parts for markets worldwide. The company traces its origins to Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd., founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda, initially producing machine tools and later vehicles. The Mazda brand name was adopted for products in the 1930s, and the corporate name was changed to Mazda Motor Corporation in 1984.

The Mazda name is commonly linked to the founder’s surname and to Ahura Mazda, the Persian god of wisdom, symbolizing knowledge and enlightenment. Mazda developed the rotary engine early in its history, with the Cosmo Sport of 1967. The rotary-powered RX-7 (introduced in 1978) and RX-8 further established the company’s distinctive engineering identity.

Throughout the late 20th and early 21st centuries Mazda expanded internationally and forged alliances, notably a long-standing relationship with Ford Motor Company beginning in 1979. Mazda produces a wide range of vehicles, including the compact Mazda3, midsize Mazda6, crossovers such as the CX-5, and the MX-5 Miata roadster. The company emphasizes efficiency and performance through its Skyactiv technology.

Mazda is advancing electrification and sustainability under strategies such as Sustainable Zoom-Zoom. It operates manufacturing plants in Japan and abroad and markets vehicles across Asia, Europe, the Americas, and other regions. The Mazda brand is recognized for its driver-centric philosophy, lightweight design, and the enduring popularity of the MX-5 Miata.