Mazda is one of the leading automakers today. The company has actually been operating since 1920 and is currently based in Hiroshima, Japan. In the year 2006, Mazda expected to produce 1.25 million vehicles per year, with sales evenly divided among Japan, Europe, Australia, and North America, followed by Latin America.

Mazda initially began as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd. In 1927, Toyo Cork Kogyo renamed itself to Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd. The company then moved from manufacturing machine tools to vehicles, with the introduction of the Mazda-Go in 1931. It wasn’t until in 1984 that the company formally adopted the Mazda name, though every automobile sold from the beginning bore that name. The first four-wheel car, the Mazda R360 was introduced in 1960, followed by the Mazda Carol in 1962.

The Ford Motor Company owned 15% of Mazda, and increased its stake to a 33.4% controlling interest on March 31, 1999 after Mazda fell into financial crisis. Ford executive Mark Fields is credited with Mazda’s turnaround. Ford has based many of its models on Mazdas, such as the Probe, late model Escort and Mercury Tracer, and the co-developed Escape/Mazda Tribute.

Mazda also helped Ford develop the 1991 Explorer, which Mazda sold as the 2-door only Mazda Navajo between 1991-1994. Mazda has also used Ford’s Ranger pickup as the basis for its North American-market B-Series trucks, starting in 1994 and continuing today. These trucks are manufactured in the US. They now use a Mazda-sourced 2.3L I4 instead of the old Ford Lima 2.3L I4. Both 3.0L and 4.0L Ford V6s are available, as is 4-wheel drive and a 4-door.

The 1979 deal paved way for Ford selling badge-engineered Mazdas in Asia and Australia, such as the Laser and Telstar. These models replaced the models from Ford Europe which sold throughout the 1970s. Ford also used the Mazda models to establish its own retail presence in Japan.

Presently, Mazda is striving not only to be a great car manufacturer but also as a responsible corporate citizen. The representative director and president, Hisakazu Imaki said they live by the motto, “Developing the people that make the products”. By December of 1999, Mazda have established a new corporate vision comprising of Vision, Mission and Value. Each element geared on producing great service and better automotive products.