Who Owns the MAZDA Car Company? A Quick History of Our Brand 

Who Makes Mazda?

Ever wonder who owns the Mazda car company, or how the company has evolved to become one of the world’s most respected car manufacturers? From its founding in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan, the Mazda brand’s history is a rich one. Here, North Penn Mazda explores the automaker’s milestone moments.

MAZDA Milestones at a Glance

  • Originally founded as a cork manufacturer, in 1931 the Mazda company shifted its focus to automobile production. Its first offering — the Mazda-Go three-wheeled truck — quickly became one of the most popular vehicles models in Japan.
  • By 1953, the company was producing 3,000 units per month. This set the stage for its very first passenger vehicle: the Mazda R360 Coupe, which debuted in 1960. As the first in a long line of stunning new Mazda models, the Mazda R360 Coupe set the precedent for the brand’s legendary commitment to quality and innovation.
  • In 1967, the Mazda brand made history with the Cosmo Sport, the world’s first production car with a twin-rotor engine. This was regarded by automotive engineers of the period as a “dream engine,” one that combined high performance with low emissions.
  • In 1979, the company surpassed the one-million-car mark in annual production. Soon after, two models — the Mazda Familia and the Mazda Capella — won Japan Car of the Year awards.
  • In 1984, the company officially changed its name to Mazda Motor Corporation.
  • 2007 saw the debut of the brand’s memorable sustainable vision, which set a goal of improving the average fuel economy of Mazda models by 30%. Next-generation initiatives such as SKYACTIV® Technology and KODO Design soon followed, and in 2012, the Mazda CX-5 announced the new generation of Mazda automobiles.
  • In 2020, to celebrate its 100th anniversary, Mazda Motor Corporation launched its first mass-production EV: the Mazda MX-30. It set the tone for the great electrified models that are available today at our Colmar, PA Mazda dealership with, for example, the Mazda CX-50 Hybrid and the Mazda CX-90 Plug-in Hybrid.

Learn More About MAZDA Near Philadelphia, PA

North Penn Mazda is proud to represent the Mazda brand. Our dedication to excellence has been constant over 40+ years in business, and we’re a recipient of the Mazda Gold Cup, a prestigious award given to just the top 150 Mazda dealers nationwide. Quality cars, expert service, competitive Mazda finance — whatever you need, we deliver.