Company

On this day in 1920, Jujiro Matsuda (1875-1952) forms Toyo Cork Kogyo, a

business that makes cork, in Hiroshima, Japan; just over a decade later the

company produces its first automobile and eventually changes its name to

Mazda. Today, Mazda is known for its affordable, quality-performance

vehicles, including the Miata, the world’s best-selling two-seat roadster.

In 1931, the company launched the Mazda-Go, a three-wheeled vehicle that

resembled a motorcycle with a cargo-carrier at the back. The company’s car

development plans were halted during World War II and the bombing of

Hiroshima. In the 1950s, Mazda began making small, four-wheel trucks. The

company launched its first passenger car, the R360 Coupe, in 1960 in Japan.

Seven years later, Mazda debuted the first rotary engine car, the Cosmo Sport

110S. Mazda entered the American market in 1970, with the R100 coupe, the

first mass-produced, rotary-powered car in the U.S. In 1978, the Mazda RX-7,

an affordable, “peak-performing” sports car debuted. The following year, the

Ford Motor Company took a 25 percent stake in the company.

In 1989, at the Chicago Auto Show, Mazda unveiled the MX-5 Miata, a two-

door sports car carrying a starting price tag of $13,800. According to Mazda,

the concept for the car was: “affordable to buy and use, lightweight, Jinba

Ittai(‘rider and horse as one’) handling, and classic roadster looks.” The 2000

“Guinness Book of World Records” named the Miata the best-selling two-seat

convertible in history.
In 1991, in another milestone for the company, a Mazda 787 B won the 24

Hours of Le Mans race, becoming the first rotary-powered car as well as the

first Japanese-made auto to do so. However, Mazda was impacted by the

economic slump in Japan in the 1990s and in 1996, Ford took a controlling

stake in the automaker and rescued it from potential bankruptcy. The two

companies shared manufacturing facilities in several countries along with

vehicle platforms and other resources. In 2008, Ford, which had been hurt by

the global economic crisis and slumping auto sales, relinquished control of

Mazda by selling 20 percent of its controlling stake for around $540 million.

(Also that year, General Motors sold its stake in Japan-based Suzuki Motor.)

In 2009, Mazda celebrated the 20th anniversary of the MX-5 Miata, whose

sales by then had topped nearly 900,000 and which had won almost 180

major automotive awards.

Fact 1:
Early days:

Mazda was founded by Jugiro Matsuda in 1920 as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. Ltd. in
Hiroshima. Towards the end of this decade it had been transformed into a product
line that included several machined product. Finally in the year 1931, Matsuda
came up with a three-wheeled truck design which was hugely successful.

Fact 2:
It has the distinctive fortune of having survived the atomic bomb attack on
Hiroshima in 1945. Being away from the impact center, it did not suffer much
infrastructural damage.
Fact 3:
In terms of market share, Mazda stands fifth in Japan as per the new Mazda facts
and figures.

Fact 4:
It entered the US market in the 1970’s and with a lucky break became an overnight
success with the customers.

Fact 5:
Like every successful automobile maker, Mazda made its mark on the industry by
developing the state of art piston less engine that resulted in the Mazda’s Wankel
rotary engine, which in turn were responsible for its huge success in the motor
vehicle segment. When the facts about new Mazda are considered this very
contribution usually makes it to the top

Fact 6:

Name and Logo:

Some of the fun facts about Mazda includes its name, which is closely associated
with the name of its founder and also signifies a tribute to the Zoroastrian god of
wisdom i.e. Ahura Mazda. The logo of the company signifies expanding its wings
to a successful future.

Fact 7:
Year 1973 proved to be a hair pin bend on the history of Mazda, when it was
approached by Ford for partnership. This successful business alliance has been one
of the best in the recent time even though it ended in 2010

Fact 8:
Ever since the early days of its finding, Mazda has been active on the racing sports
front. It became all the more prolific after it developed the iconic Wankel rotary
engine. This proved to be a huge advantage on the part of Mazda as no other
competitors had their hands on such a technology.

Fact 9:
Mazda saw a rather financially precarious state between 1990’s to 2000’s and in
the year 2001 it decided to take up a complete corporate shake up and
restructuring. In 2001 it also came out with uts one of the most successful sedans
i.e. Mazda Atenza

Fact 10:
Even today Mazda takes pride in being the sponsor for many sports teams and not
just motor sports team. So, if you ever dream of working for Mazda you would
have a huge advantage if you are passionate about motor sports or any sports for
that matter.