Home History Does Ford Own Mazda – A Detailed History Of Mazda

Does Ford Own Mazda – A Detailed History Of Mazda

by Kelvin Yates

Does Ford own Mazda? That might be a quick question on your mind as a car buyer or researcher. Yet, it’s not something that’s often been recorded in great detail.

Mazda cars are very well-made, and many folks love their products. They come with numerous outstanding features that attract buyers. However, these features range from high-quality-made car parts that enable them to last longer.

Furthermore, most car-making companies produce different models of cars to enable their buyers to make choices that suit their tastes. Sometimes as a buyer, you may not know the real automaker of the car model you’re purchasing. And if you don’t pay close attention to your car’s manufacturer, you may not know when it changes ownership.

However, in the case of Ford and Mazda, you might wonder if Ford owns Mazda, considering their previous collaborations and Ford owning a good percentage of the company’s shares. Although Ford later sold all its shares to Mazda in 2015. In this article, we will discuss the history of Mazda. Also, provide answers to some questions that bother Mazda’s ownership.

History Of Mazda

The Mazda company was founded in Hiroshima, Japan, back in 1920. Henry Ford founded Ford in 1903. Mazda and Ford were separate firms initially until they decided to collaborate.

As of 2015, Mazda had produced over 1.5 million cars worldwide. It ranked the 15th biggest car manufacturing company worldwide. They derived the name Mazda from an ancient west-Asian civilization; the name came from Ahura Mazda, meaning, the god of light.

Jujiro Matsuda founded Mazda in 1920 but initially named it Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. Limited. They kicked off as a cork-making company. However, it later changed its name to Toyo Kogyo Co. Limited in 1927. They initially specialized in producing machine tools.

The company’s initial product was Mazda-Go Autorickshaw and was founded in 1931. However, the brain behind the production of Mazda is the NSU Ro 80, a four-door, front-engine car. The West German business NSU built and sold this car in the 1960s.

Also, the Pro Mazda Championship series is currently produced by Mazda. And they were one of the last manufacturers producing Wankel-type engines. As a three-wheeled vehicle with a cargo carrier at the back, the Mazda-Go was launched by the business in 1931.

Furthermore, the R100 coupe was Mazda’s first large-scale rotary-powered vehicle in the United States. It made its first appearance in the U.S. in 1970. Mazda entered the Canadian market in 1968.

The Mazda RX-7, a “peak-performing” sports automobile, was introduced in 1978. As of 2000, the MX-5 Miata was the most popular two-seat convertible in history. This extraordinary Mazda is among the best-selling cars recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Ford-Mazda Partnership

Also, the first rotary-powered car to win the 24 Hours of Le Man’s race was a Mazda 787 B in 1991. Ford acquired a majority stake in Mazda in 1996 after it was hit hard by the Japanese economic downturn in the 1990s.

Does-ford-own-mazda

Mazda and Ford’s partnership started from 1974 to 2015. It all began because Mazda was in financial trouble. During the 1990s, Ford’s stake in Mazda rose from 7% to 33.4%.

Again, for roughly $540 million, Ford sold a 20% ownership in Mazda back to the Japanese automaker in 2008. This step taken by Ford decreased its share in the company. They obtained the name Mazda in 1984. Nevertheless, most of its vehicles bore the name before its adoption.

On January 1, 2007, Mazda took full control of the company when Ford cut their investment in it by 1 percent. Sales of the Mazda6 surpassed all prior Mazda models by one million units in just a few months. The Mazda MX-5 has been the most popular two-seater convertible sports car.

Eventually, at some point, Ford couldn’t keep up again and continued to sell off their shares in Mazda. They were left with only 3% shares, and in 2015 they sold off the remaining shares to Mazda and handed over full ownership to Mazda Motor Corporation.

Also, note that when the agreement between Ford and Mazda ended in 2015, Mazda went into another partnership with Toyota the same year.

This partnership took place in May 2015. Mazda, in the agreement, will provide Toyota with their SkyActive technology. In reciprocity, Toyota will deliver their hydrogen fuel cell systems to Mazda.

The Meaning Of Mazda

It was in October 1931 that the name Mazda was first introduced to Japan. So the name Mazda was derived from a Zoroastrian word called Ahura Mazda, which means god of light, intelligence, wisdom, and harmony. Nevertheless, the meaning of Mazda alone is light or wisdom. That came about in the early part of west Asian civilization.

When Did Ford Buy Mazda

Mazda’s economic downturn in 1960 resulted in allying with the Ford Motor Company. That lasted till 2015. Although before the end of this partnership, you’d notice that Ford held up to 20% of the shares in the company in the 1980s. Surprisingly, they rose to hold up to 33.4% in the ’90s.

However, in the long run, Ford sold all its shares to Mazda in 2015, giving Mazda full ownership of the company. Nevertheless, if you’re wondering, when did Ford buy Mazda? There is no record of Ford buying Mazda. They only held a greater percentage of the shares, giving them a high chance of ownership.

Does Ford Own Mazda

Does Ford own Mazda? The simple answer to this question is no. Why? Because Ford sold off all its shares to Mazda in 2015. That made them relinquish complete ownership to Mazda.

Remember that as of 1995, Ford owned more than 33% shares in Mazda. And this gave them a higher possibility of takeover in the future if they pushed further. However, who owns Mazda? Currently, Mazda is owned by Mazda Motor Corporation.

Mazda Motor Corporation is the producer of Mazda cars. We initially knew them to be cork makers, but they’ve evolved into a big auto-making company. Also, they’re one of the leading global automakers in Japan. Jujiro Matsuda founded it in 1920.

They have several branches in Japan. One factory is located at Hofu, while two are in Hiroshima prefecture of Japan. Also, Mazda has factories in the USA where they make some of their keynote models.

Again, many folks love Mazda cars because of the durable nature of their cars and their high-tech model of making cars. Thus, they have several distributing regions in different parts of the globe.

When Did Mazda Make Their First Passenger Car

Mazda was first known as Cork Toyo Kogyo. Co. Limited, in Hiroshima, Japan. They were first known as machine tools producers until they delved into automaking. Cork Toyo Kogyo almost folded up due to some financial crisis they encountered towards the end of the 1920s. However, the timely intervention of the Sumitomo Keiretsu group, further known as the Sumitomo bank, salvaged the situation.

Thus, their recovery led to the diversification of products, which gave rise to auto-making. They became car manufacturers in 1931, making cars with piston engines. Furthermore, by the ’70s, they’ve made several models of 4-cylinder cars and rotary engines for sports cars.

Again, the first passenger car they manufactured was the R360. Most wealthier Japanese desired to own this two-door, four-seater luxury lightweight car. Also, it was a low fuel burner car, with both automatic and manual transmission.

Also, other types of passenger cars produced by Mazda were the Carol 600 and Familia van in 1962. Both cars came with four doors. By then, production had increased for Mazda and was around one million cars. That was a breakthrough for them.

When Did Ford Officially Leave Mazda

Mazda and Ford had this great relationship until Ford began to sell off its shares gradually after a fall in car sales. When did Ford leave Mazda? The companies finally went their separate ways in 2008, and Ford sold more than 20% of its shares to Mazda. They retained only 11% shares, which they later sold off.

Does Mazda Use Ford Engines

When Mazda and Ford were in partnership, Mazda was using Ford engines. A lot of car parts in Mazda then were all Ford Motor parts. That continued till both companies went their separate ways. So presently, does Mazda use Ford engines? No, they don’t use Ford engines. Mazda uses its engines, and they’re very strong and productive.

Also, they’ve made numerous models of engines, including a new diesel engine, which they unveiled in 2019. Again, They make durable and long-lasting engines that you can depend on.

Different Mazda Models And Where They Are Made

Mazda has different models that are being designed in Japan and America. Each of these countries has different locations where Mazda products are manufactured. Below is a list of Mazda models and their manufacturing locations.

Does Ford Own Mazda, Where Are They Made: Mazda 3

Mazda makes this model at Hofu, Yamaguchi, in Japan. However, the Hiroshima facility handles the manufacturing of the engines and the transmission of these car models. The Mazda 3 costs around $16,000 to $30,000.

Does Ford Own Mazda, Where Are They Made: Mazda 6 Models

The North American facilities are in charge of the production of these models. One facility is at Flat Rock in Michigan, while the other is at the Claycomo facility in Missouri.

Does Ford Own Mazda, Where Are They Made: Mazda Sedans And SUVs

Mazda manufactures this model in their Japan-based facility. Their 2022 Mazda 3 Sedan looks catchy and costs around $22,000.

Does Ford Own Mazda, Where Are They Made: CX-5, RX-8, Mazda5 Minivan, And MX-5 Roadster

These four models stem from the Hiroshima facility in the Miyoshi region of Japan. Also, they produce performance cars in this facility.

The Features, Specs, And Prices Of The Latest Mazda Models

Each Mazda model has special features, specifications, and general market prices. You can easily differentiate these models through their features and specifications.

Mazda CX5

Features: The Mazda CX-5 has a 6-speed automatic transmission and an infotainment show of 8.8 inches—also, a fuel tank of 15.3 gallons.

Specification: It is a 2.0-liter 4-cylinder engine, a five-seater car, and an all-wheel drive.

Approximate Price: $25,370

Mazda 3

Features: The Mazda 3 has four inline form of cylinders, an infotainment show of 8.8 inches, and double airbags in the front.

Specification: It features a 6-speed automatic transmission, a front-wheel drive, and a five-seater car.

Approximate Price: $20, 650

Mazda CX-9

Features: It has four inline forms of cylinders, with six speakers and an inbuilt USB port, also with keyless entry.

Specification: It features a fuel tank of 16.4 gallons, and a 2.5-liter DOHC engine.

Approximate Price: $34,160

Mazda MX-5 Miata

Features: This model has an emergency braking system, six sound speakers, and cruise and audio control.

Specification: It’s a rear-wheel drive. The fuel tank’s capacity is 11.9 gallons, and a 2.0-litre gas engine.

Approx. Price: $26,830

Mazda 3 Sedan

Specs & Features: The 2021 Mazda 3 comes with 3 engine options. There is a 2.0-liter engine with 155 horsepower, a 2.5-liter motor with 186 horsepower, and a turbocharged variant with 227 horsepower. This four-door sedan is well-known for the attractive design of its exterior and the refined and high-quality interior that it has.

Approx. Price: $21,150

Mazda 6 Sedan

Specs & Features: This compact cruiser can reach speeds of 0-60 mph in 8 or 6.1 seconds with either a normally aspirated or turbocharged inline-four engine. The maximum speed is 131 mph in either situation due to an electrical limiter. It’s also well-equipped in terms of amenities that make life easier and more comfortable.

The infotainment system is fully compatible with smartphones. There are additional safety measures in the Mazda 6 model. The NHTSA rated it 5-star for crashworthiness, and it also bagged the Top Safety Pick+ by the IIHS.

Approx. Price: $24,500

Who-owns-mazda

When Was The Mazda 3, Mazda 6, And Mazda MX 5 Launched

Mazda launched Mazda 3 in 2003 as a 2004 model. The intention was to substitute for the Familia model of Mazda. That was the first generation of the Mazda 3 model. They also launched a 2nd generation of the Mazda 3 model in 2009. Finally, the present Mazda 3 model, the 3rd generation, was launched in 2014.

Again, the Mazda 6 model is a prominent car and was first launched in 2002. It substituted for the Mazda Capella. That was the first generation of the Mazda 6 model.

Mazda launched the 2nd generation of Mazda 6 in 2008 and the 3rd gen in 2016. Also, they sold up to 1 million cars of this model and had much quicker sales than previous models.

Furthermore, they launched the Mazda MX-5 in 1989 during the Chicago car exhibition. That was the first generation. The 2nd generation followed suit in 1999, while they launched the 3rd generation in 2005.

The Mazda MX-3 was outstanding compared to other Mazda models at that time. It’s a two-seat convertible sports car and one of the best-sellers on record. Also, Mazda has manufactured and sold over 1 million Mazda MX-5s all over the globe. This outstanding model has won several awards over the years.

The Old Mazda Logo

The old Mazda logo was first introduced in the 1930s, and the 3-wheeled trucks had it on them first. Another logo emerged from 1936 to 1959, which looked more like a flowing river. It was three M’s stacked on each other, representing Mazda Motor Manufacturer. Also, they extended the M’s on both sides like wings which means agility, speed, and the power to fly high.

Again, Mazda introduced a new logo from 1959 to 1974, to replace the triple M logo. The Mazda R360 coupe and some passenger cars had this logo on them. They introduced another logo in 1974 to supersede the old logo, which lasted till 1997.

Does-ford-own-mazda

Mazda first introduced and adopted its present car symbol in June 1997. The symbol is a V-shaped wing inside a circle. And this shows Mazda’s flexibility in thinking, creativity, strength, and vigor. Also, this particular symbol is accompanied by a blue-colored Mazda logo. However, the blue color Mazda lasted for 18 years, and then a new color logo emerged in 2015, which they still use to date.

If you look closely at Mazda’s logo, you’ll notice that all the letters are small, except the “D.” Why? Because they want the top and bottom of their corporate mark to fit in properly. Using a lowercase letter “d” will stick out on top, misaligning it. For Mazda, they want to present themselves to be a credible and well-articulated brand by making sure all letters fit in.

Mazda And Toyota Partnership

Mazda went into partnership with Toyota in 2015, and this was after they ended their relationship with Ford. After the separation from Ford, they recorded a great loss, prompting them to raise 150 billion yen ($1.9 billion). They used that money to restore their capital base.

Furthermore, Mazda’s partnership with Toyota was more like a mutual agreement. Hence, Mazda agreed to supply Toyota with their SkyActive gasoline and engine technology. At the same time, Toyota will supply them with their hydrogen fuel cell systems.

Facts about Ford and Mazda: A History and Their Relationship

  1. It’s not always easy to tell which car brands belong to which parent company, as ownership can change, parent companies could split up, and brands often collaborate.
  2. Mazda was founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda, who got his start in Japan as a cork making company, but a decade later, he produced Mazda’s first vehicle, the Mazda-Go.
  3. Ford was founded in 1903 by Henry Ford and produced the Model T, which became one of the most popular cars in the world, with over 15 million cars made.
  4. In 1979, Ford took a 25% stake in Mazda, and in 1996, Ford took a controlling stake to help Mazda avoid bankruptcy.
  5. During their partnership, Ford and Mazda shared manufacturing facilities, vehicle platforms, and numerous other resources.
  6. Ford produced flexible-fuel vehicles and sold the first taxis that used natural gas to New York City during the partnership.
  7. The partnership between Ford and Mazda ended in 2008, with Ford selling most of its shares and only retaining 11%.
  8. Mazda celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2020 and has been collaborating on some projects with Toyota, but sales were down 16% in 2018, the largest decline of all brands.
  9. Ford has held the top spot for the #1 selling vehicle in the U.S. with the Ford F-series trucks and shares were up 16% in 2019, which was better than any other U.S. automaker.
  10. Ford and Mazda still share information and partner on some projects, but the development of vehicles together has ended.

Final Words On Does Ford Own Mazda

Overall, Mazda makes high-quality cars to meet your driving needs. Does Ford own Mazda? No! At least, not anymore. Over the years, they went into an agreement lasting more than three decades. Also, Ford held a larger part of their shares, making them assume company ownership. However, a major economic downturn finally made Ford sell off all their shares in 2015.

Again, Mazda Motor Corporation is an amazing automaking company; many buyers love their cars. They’ve manufactured over $1.5 million in vehicles around the globe. They rank as the fifteenth automaking company in the world. Presently they are in partnership with Toyota under a very mutual agreement.

FAQs On Does Ford Own Mazda

Here are some popular FAQs:

Who Makes Mazda

Mazda Motor Corporation is the producer of Mazda cars. They were initially Cork makers, but they’ve evolved into a big automaking company. Also, they’re one of the leading global automakers in Japan. Jujiro Matsuda founded it in 1920. They have several branches in Japan. One factory is located at Hofu, while two are in Hiroshima prefecture of Japan. Also, the U.S. has factories in various locales where Mazda cars are made from North American Mazda cars.

Is Mazda Owned By Ford

The simple answer to this question is no. Why? Because Ford sold off all its shares to Mazda in 2015. That made them relinquish complete ownership to Mazda. Remember that as of 1995, Ford owned more than 33% shares in Mazda. And this gave them a higher possibility of takeover in the future if they pushed further. However, currently, Mazda Motor Corporation owns Mazda.

Is Mazda Japanese

Yes, Mazda is a Japanese company based in Hiroshima, Japan.

Where Is Mazda Made

Mazda is made in Japan and North America, precisely in Mexico. It has three factories in Japan. Two factories are located in Hiroshima and one in Yamaguchi. Also, there’s one factory under construction at Huntsville in Alabama.

Where Is Mazda From

Mazda Motor Corporation is from Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima prefecture, Japan. They were formerly known as Toyo Cork Kogyo before changing to Mazda Motor Corporation.

Is Mazda Reliable

Yes, Mazda cars are very reliable. They’ve manufactured over one million cars and rank as the 15th best car manufacturer in the world. Its reliability score is 83, gapping Toyota, Lexus, and Honda. Their car brands are one of the best and most cost-effective in the market. It is made with top-notch quality and doesn’t break down frequently. One of its top features is an outstanding infotainment system and dual-clutch gear shifters that use electronic control.

Who Is Mazda Owned By

Mazda Motor Corporation owns Mazda. They’re based in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima prefecture, Japan. Toyota, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Group, The Master Trust Bank Of Japan, and Japan Trustee Services Bank also partly owns Mazda.

Where Is Mazda CX 5 Made

Mazda made the Mazda CX 5 in their Hiroshima factory in Japan. The facility is in charge of making the Mazda CX 5.

Does Toyota Own Mazda

Toyota is one of the shareholders of Mazda. They’ve been in partnership since 2015. However, Toyota is one of the owners of Mazda.

Is Mazda American

Mazda is not an American company but has a facility in North America where Mazda cars are manufactured. Mazda is a Japanese company.

Are Mazda Good Cars

Mazda cars are recommended as one of the market’s most durable and efficient cars. So yes, Mazda cars are good cars. Their owners love them. It’s also an affordable yet effective car.

Does Mazda Have A Luxury Brand

Mazda cars are not luxury brands. Many car experts don’t consider the Mazda a luxury car, although they are manufactured with premium quality and are very cost-effective.

You may also like

Leave a Comment