Originally established in January 1920, Mazda started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda Motor Corporation today ranks as one of Japan’s leading automakers.
Mazda has been exporting cars to the United States and Europe for about 40 years. Overseas sales account for more than two thirds of total turnover. Mazda has two main production sites in Japan and 18 overseas facilities. Mazda’s factory at Hiroshima is one of the largest single-site automobile plants in the world, with an annual production capacity of over 500,000 units. The plant located at Hofu has a capacity of nearly 400,000 units. Overseas sites include joint ventures based in the United States, and in Thailand with Ford Motor Company, Mazda’s largest shareholder.
Mazda boasts an illustrious history of engineering innovation, symbolized by the rotary engine. Although many leading firms attempted to adapt the concept, only Mazda persevered and succeeded in creating a commercial sports car engine. Today, Mazda is the only manufacturer in the world that makes gasoline, diesel and rotary internal combustion engines. The latest incarnation of the rotary engine powers the new Mazda RX-8, a car that truly embodies Mazda DNA.
Mazda’s raison d’être is to make cars that are fun to drive-cars that enthuse but are also affordable. The brand message “Zoom-Zoom” aims to capture this feeling, expressing the passionate spirit of motoring enjoyment that drives Mazda forward. © 2006 Mazda
