Foundation: 1920
Headquarters: Fuchu, Hiroshima
President: Akira Marumoto
Executive Summary: Mazda Motor Corporation is a Japanese multinational automaker with roots tracing back to 1920 when it was founded as a cork manufacturing company. In 1931, Mazda produced its first vehicle, the Mazda-Go, a three-wheeled auto-rickshaw. However, plans for more advanced vehicles were put on hold during the Pacific War, during which the company shifted to manufacturing weapons for the Japanese military. Post-war, Mazda resumed automotive production, and by the 1950s, it started making four-wheeled trucks. In the 1960s, Mazda introduced the R360, its first passenger coupé.
Mazda also pioneered the use of rotary engines, an alternative to the conventional reciprocating piston engines, with the first model being the 1967 Cosmo Sport coupĂ©. However, the 1973 oil crisis severely impacted Mazda’s financial health due to the rotary engines’ lower fuel efficiency. This led to financial interventions from Sumitomo and Ford Motor Company; Ford acquired a 25% stake in Mazda in 1979, which grew to a controlling interest during the 1990s amidst the Asian Financial Crisis.
By 2008, Ford began reducing its stake, and eventually, the Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group became Mazda’s largest shareholder. Ford completely divested from Mazda by 2016. Mazda has gained acclaim for its lightweight, affordable sports cars, notably the MX-5 Miata, known as the Roadster in some markets. In motorsports, Mazda made history as the first Japanese manufacturer to win the 1991 24 Hours of Le Mans. Mazda’s annual revenue is in the range of US$30 billion.
