How Mazda Was Made: Brief History of the Brand

The Mazda name is undeniably associated with powerful, modern vehicles that are elegant in looks and comfort and fun to drive. However, Mazda’s history is a bit complex, dating back more than a century and starting with — of all things, cork.

How It All Began: Mazda’s Early Days

To understand how it all began, let’s go back to January 30, 1920, in Hiroshima, Japan. A man named Jujiro Matsuda opened the doors of his new factory, Toyo Cork Kogyo, which produced cork. A little more than a decade later, a financially strapped Matsuda transitioned from producing cork to producing vehicles with the production of the first Mazda-Go auto rickshaw.

Named for the Persian god of light, Ahura Mazda, the vehicles produced by the Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd., evolved throughout the 20th century to include more complex engineering and sophisticated technology. However, this early history of the brand is not where the story ends.

Making the Sports Car Accessible: Mazda Introduces the Miata MX-5

The damage of World War II on the city of Hiroshima impacted production and development, but Mazda still managed to expand its production to passenger cars and four-wheel trucks. In the 1960s, it debuted the world’s first rotary engine car, the Cosmo Sport 110S, before finally entering the American market in 1970 with the R100 coupe.

However, Mazda, which officially changed its name in 1984, did not make its most notable contribution to automobile history until 1989 when the Mazda MX-5 Miata debuted at the Chicago Auto Show and forever changed how the world viewed the accessibility of sports cars.

Mazda marketed its MX-5 Miata, which had a starting price of $13,800, as an affordable, lightweight, classic roadster embedded with the essence of Mazda’s new signature Jinba Ittai (“the oneness of rider and horse”) concept.

Since its debut, the Miata has not only changed the way that Mazda designs all its vehicles — the concept of Jinba Ittai is still at the heart of every modern Mazda, but it also changed the market for sportscars worldwide.

In 2000, The Guinness Book of World Records named the Mazda Miata the bestselling, two-seat sportscar in history, a title that was updated in 2011 after selling more than 900,000 vehicles.

To date, the Miata has also won more than 180 automotive awards. The honors include everything from 18 years as one of Car and Driver’s 10 Best to individual awards such as the Auto Express Roadster of the Year (2017) and Edmunds.com’s Editor’s Choice (2019).

Paving the Way to the Future: Mazda in the 21st Century and Beyond

In the 21st century, Mazda is an established household name, notable for its classic sportscar, of course, but also its affordable, reliable sedans, crossovers, and SUVs. The concept of Jinba Ittai still influences Mazda designers and engineers, who focus on creating beautiful, nature-forward vehicles designed to unite driver and vehicle in a way that feels natural, safe, and joyful.

Mazda continues to develop other aspects of its vehicles as well. This includes installing top engineering and technology, such as the SKYACTIV-X® engine, i-ACTIVSENSE® technology, and the MyMazda app, which collectively help the brand stay on the cutting edge of the automotive world.

It keeps budget in mind when designing models such as the Mazda3 Sedan, which unites performance with affordability. Finally, Mazda is also committed to sustainability and environmentalism, focusing much of its future development on carbon neutrality and unity with Mother Nature.

Feel the History: Test Drive a Mazda Today

Mazda’s history has truly come a long way since its original Hiroshima manufacturing plant began making cork in 1920. Today, the Mazda brand is known all over the world as a top car manufacturer that provides drivers with a unique experience of “oneness” with their vehicles.

Don’t believe it? Visit DePaula Mazda and feel the history of Mazda for yourself. Contact us to learn more about the exhilarating lineup or visit our showroom in Albany, New York, for a test drive.