The Road to the Mazda 100th Anniversary

Life is about milestones.

Business is no different.

Celebrating 100 years in business marks a tremendous success for business owners, employees, and consumers alike.

So, it was a big deal for Mazda to celebrate its centenary of January 30, 2020.

To commemorate the monumental anniversary, a special employee event was held at the Mazda headquarters in Hiroshima, Japan, that included executives, representatives of the workers’ union, and employees.

The brand is planning to celebrate throughout the year, including themed exhibits at the Geneva International Motor Show which took place in March.

An open-house event has also been scheduled for the Mazda headquarters in May 2020, although the recent COVID-19 pandemic will likely push it back to later in the year. That event will be open to the public through social media streaming, offering a truly innovative way to include and thank consumers around the world.

Hosting celebrations to mark special occasions is nothing new to the company. In 2019, the company held parties honoring the 30th anniversary of the MX-5.

The History of Mazda

The history of Mazda is one that is unlike any other.

Quite a bit has changed since 1920, including the company name and product.

Mazda originated as a company producing cork and then took the path to manufacturing automobiles.

“Now, our cars have found friends with many customers from over 130 countries and regions,” Mazda President and CEO, Akira Marumoto stated in a press release.

When Mazda began 100 years ago, the company was originally named Jujiro Matsuda and founded Toyo Cork Industries.

It produced corks for almost a decade before changing gears and manufacturing automobiles.

Up until WWII, the company had manufactured a variety of three-wheeled vehicles including the Mazda-Go. Once the war began, the company began manufacturing weapons to help the war effort until Hiroshima suffered from the effects of an atomic bomb.

From the 1950s through the 1960s, Mazda began making four-wheel trucks and passenger cars like the R360.

By 1970, Mazda had entered the American market with its popular rotary-powered RX-7. This led to the launch of the MX-5 in 1989, a signature car for Mazda.

The Hiroshima-based company built a partnership with Ford that eventually started to fall apart after the financial crisis of 2008. In 2015, the relationship folded.

The partnership dissolving proved to be a mere bump in the road for Mazda. At the forefront of technology and design, Mazda has since struck a chord in the American market.

Learn More About Getting a Mazda of Your Own

The ups, downs, and changes throughout the years truly make the Mazda 100th anniversary something to celebrate throughout the year.

And, despite the uncertainty surrounding the immediate future amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Mazda is going to find any way it can to celebrate its iconic birthday.

You can join in too.

If you’re ready to see why Americans love Mazda and discover what the new lineup has to offer, contact DePaula Mazda today and our staff will be happy to answer your questions. We’ll take the proper steps to getting you behind the wheel of the Mazda that’s right for you!