Mazda’s history dates back to 1920. Its founder, Matsuda, started out in Hiroshima by producing wine corks. The company was originally named Toyo Cork Industry Co., Ltd. and was renamed Toyo Industrial Co., Ltd. in 1927. In 1984, the company was named after its founder Matsuda, and the transliteration of "Mazda" was used in translation.
In 1931, Mazda started its involvement in the automobile manufacturing industry by producing three-wheeled trucks. Production of cars began in 1940. In 1967, Mazda signed an agreement with Wankel Company to obtain the rights to produce rotary engines, thus beginning a period of rapid development for Mazda. From 1967 to 1979, the company produced a total of 10 million Mazda cars. In 1987, the factory in the United States began to produce Mazda cars, with a production capacity of 240,000 cars. By 2002, Mazda had produced a total of more than 35 million cars. Such a development speed is due to Mazda's R&D capabilities. After introducing the rotary engine from the Wankel Company, Mazda carried out technical improvements and research, and successfully developed an electronically controlled rotary engine with 6 air intakes. This kind of engine uses a microcomputer to control the engine load status and automatically adjust the idle speed device and exhaust gas recirculation device to make the engine work smoothly, thereby reducing fuel consumption and exhaust gas emissions. Mazda's rotary engine cars rx5, rx7 and rx8 coupe are now on the market and are very popular among users.
Due to Mazda Motor Company’s long-term pursuit of output, product technology and market expansion, after continuous huge investments, it coincided with the emergence of an economic bubble in Japan in the early 1990s. In 1995, the company’s first It suffered huge operating losses and was once the second-largest loss-making company in Japan. Its annual losses reached a maximum of 155.2 billion yen, and this kind of loss has continued for 6 years.
At this time, partner Ford, which holds 33.4% of Mazda's shares, extended a helping hand. Mazda's foreign CEO Mark Field led the formulation of Mazda's "New Century Plan" in November 2000, aiming to In establishing an automobile company that can adapt to different market needs, we will ensure continued development in the future through a strong product lineup. The plan has four cores: market, product, finance and talent training. After the new plan was implemented, production dropped by 15%. In 2002, Mazda achieved a net profit of US$65 million, the most profitable year since 1982. Currently, Mazda has 18,500 employees in Japan, as well as two manufacturing bases in Hiroshima and Hofu, and a R&D center in Yokohama; overseas, Mazda has built 19 factories in the United States, Thailand, South America and the Middle East, among which, There is an R&D center in the United States.
After 1998, Mazda tried to enter the Chinese market, and FAW Hainan Mazda began operation. It has launched two models, Familia and Prima, and is expected to launch Mazda3 in 2005.
In May 2002, the m6, which inherited the inherent spirit of the Mazda brand, was launched. As soon as it appeared on the Japanese market, it was favored by people from all walks of life in Japan and achieved outstanding sales of 10,000 units in just two months. The m6 has also been leading the way in the highly competitive European market, creating the best sales performance of 36,000 units in history, which shocked European and American car dealers and manufacturers.
The development history of Mazda Corporation for more than 80 years can be roughly divided into three stages. The first stage was from 1920 to 1960, which was the beginning and development period of Mazda Corporation. The Toyo cork industry company (The Toyo co.) was established in Hiroshima in 1920. Its president was Jujiro Matsuda. In 1921, it switched to manufacturing machines. After the Great Tokyo Earthquake in 1923, urban traffic problems occurred, and the company began to manufacture motorcycles. The motorcycles were copied from those produced in the United Kingdom and Germany, and the 0.250L two-stroke engine was manufactured by itself. In 1931, Mazda began to get involved in the automobile manufacturing industry by producing three-wheeled trucks. It developed a series of three-wheeled motor vehicles such as the TCS model.
During World War II in 1940, the production of three-wheeled trucks gave way to rifles. During the bombing of Hiroshima, half of the factory and machinery were destroyed and production came to a complete halt. Production of three-wheeled trucks was resumed in December 1945, and production expanded after 1948. Production of four-wheeled trucks began in 1950. After the outbreak of the Korean War, demand increased sharply. In 1958, it produced larger four-wheel trucks, and in 1960 it began to produce cars. The initial production was the R360 Coupe sports car, equipped with a 0.356L two-cylinder rear engine.
The second stage was from 1961 to 1996. This was a period of Mazda's growth and fame.
In 1967, it signed an agreement with Wankel Company and obtained the right to produce rotary engines. It conducted technical improvements and in-depth research and successfully developed an electronically controlled rotary engine with 6 air inlets. Afterwards, the rotary engine cars Mazda l10S, Mazda RX-2/616, RX-3/808 and RX-4/929 and later the RX-5 and RX-7 coupes came out one after another.
In 1982, the then very modern Hofu Nishiura Factory opened. In 1984, the company name was changed from Toyo Industrial Co., Ltd. to Mazda Motor Corporation.
In 1990, the Mazda 787B rotary engine racing car won Japan’s first championship at the 59th Le Mans 24 Hours Endurance Race. Mazda has gained a reputation since then, especially as a "technical Mazda". In 1991, Ma Zida successfully developed the HR-X, a hydrogen-fueled vehicle, which is a rotary engine designed with hydrogen fuel. In 1992, it developed the 3HR-X2 second-generation engine, which was actually used on roads in Japan. During the test, we learned that the hydrogen engine is indeed a zero-pollution engine and is environmentally oriented. In December 1996, MAZDA developed products using electronic digital methods (Mazda Digital Innouation MDI). In the same year, it became the first among its Japanese counterparts to obtain ISO9001 certification. Japan's bubble economy burst, and Mazda, which was engaged in large-scale construction, fell into a debt crisis.
From 1997 to the present, it has been a period of Mazda keeping a low profile and biding its time. In 1997, a new trademark in the shape of a seagull with spread wings was launched. As of 1999, the cumulative sales of the famous MX-50Miata sports car reached 500,000 units. In 1999, Mazda launched the "New Millennium Plan". After new adjustments, Mazda began to enter a new period of development. Currently, Mazda has 18,500 employees in Japan, as well as two manufacturing bases in Hiroshima and Hofu, and a R&D center in Yokohama; overseas, Mazda has built 19 factories in the United States, Thailand, South America and the Middle East, among which, There is an R&D center in the United States.
After 1998, Mazda tried to enter the Chinese market, and FAW Hainan Mazda began operation. It has launched two models, Familia and Prima, and is expected to launch Mazda3 in 2004.
In 2003, it cooperated with FAW Car to launch MAZDA6. This move enabled the Mazda brand's total sales in the Chinese market to jump to 80,000 vehicles in 2003. Now, Mazda has placed the Chinese automobile market in an equally important position as the United States.
Mazda Motor Company's original name was Toyo Industrial Company, and the cars it produced were named after the company's founder, "Matsuda". And because the pinyin of "Matsuda" is MAZDA (Mazda), people used to call it Mazda. .
The original logo used by Mazda had two hands holding a sun in an oval, which meant that Mazda would own the future and that Mazda cars would travel around the world.
After Mazda cooperated with Ford, it adopted a new car logo, which consists of a flying seagull in an oval and the word "M" at the same time. "M" is the first capital letter of "MAZDA", which indicates that the company will spread its wings and move towards the new century with endless creativity and sincere service.