Who Owns Mazda? Mazda began its automotive history in 1915 as the Fujiya Machinery Co., Ltd., an agricultural machinery manufacturer. In 1924, the company built its first car, the Mazda Zoom-AX automoblox. It wasn’t until 1954 that Mazda would build its first sedan, the Libero. The company is now one of the most recognizable automotive brands in the world. Today, Mazda has a global reach and sells over 6 million cars per year. Even though Mazda has a relatively short history of over 100 years, it has played a significant role in shaping the automotive industry as we know it today. In this article, we’ll explore the history of Mazda, from its humble origins to its current position as one of the world’s most recognizable automotive brands.
Who Owns Mazda?
The birth of Mazda predates the birth of the automobile as we know it today. However, in 1915, Shuzo Fujisawa founded the Mazda Machinery Company, an agricultural machinery manufacturing company. The business specialized in the production of equipment for Japanese rice farmers, including rice sifters, husking machines and shredders. In 1924, the company diversified into the production of light trucks and eventually began to produce their own automobiles. The first car produced by the company, the Mazda Zoom-Axe, was designed by Kōji Kimura, with the help of Shozaburo Wada, a former apprentice at Mitsubishi Motors. The Mazda Zoom-Axe was the first car to be designed by Kōji Kimura, with the help of Shozaburo Wada, a former apprentice at Mitsubishi Motors. The car was built to be cheap and easy to produce, with a price tag under US$850. It was powered by a 2.0L engine producing 26hp. It only had a top speed of 45km/h and could go 0-62mph in only 18 seconds.
From Mazdas to Familia and Beyond
In 1927, the company expanded into the production of trucks and continued to build its own vehicles. One of the vehicles produced was the Mazda Familia, which would go on to become one of the most iconic cars in Japanese history. The Familia was a two-door, four-seat roadster, with a wheelbase of 14 feet. Its production ran from 1927 to 1973, with a total of 1,335,929 cars being produced by the end of its production. The Mazda RX series of cars began in 1950, with the appearance of the RX-3. The car was powered by a naturally aspirated inline four-cylinder engine producing 31hp, with a top speed of 105km/h and a 0-60mph time of 12 seconds. The success of the RX-3 led to an expansion of production in 1953, with the addition of the RX-4. The RX-4 was an all-new design, with a unitized body and a 1.5L inline four-cylinder engine producing 42hp, with a top speed of 105km/h and a 0-60mph time of 12 seconds.
The Mazda6: A New Beginning
In 1989, the Mazda6 was Mazda’s first car to be built under the name “Mazda,” rather than the name “Familia.” The new model was the company’s first production midsize car, and featured a range of technologies that would become staples of modern vehicles. These technologies included a viscous coupling center differential, self-levelling air suspension, and anti-lock braking system. In 1999, the Mazda6 was awarded the “Car of the Year” award from Autocar magazine, which was the first time a Japanese car had received the honor. From 1999 to 2009, the Mazda6 was released with a hybrid powertrain, offering both gasoline and electric powertrains. The hybrid system included a 2.2L engine producing 121hp, a 6-speed automatic transmission, and a lithium-ion battery pack. The vehicle weighed in at 1,365kg, with a 0-62mph time of 11 seconds and a top speed of 142km/h.
Mazda’s First Compact SUV
In 2010, the Mazda CX-5 was released with a rakish appearance and a range of technologies that would define the Mazda SUV portfolio for years to come. The CX-5 was the first Mazda SUV to be powered by the Skyactiv brand of vehicles, which focused on the development of engines. The CX-5 was also the first car under the leadership of Takashi Yamanouchi, who had taken over as president of Mazda in 2006. The CX-5 was a large departure from the Mazda6, both in design and in its powertrain. The CX-5 was powered by a 2.0L Skyactiv engine producing 148hp and was equipped with a 5-speed automatic transmission. The vehicle weighed in at 1,670kg, with a 0-62mph time of 10 seconds and a top speed of 145km/h.
Mazda’s Next Generation of Electric Cars
In 2011, the Mazda2 was released as the latest model in the Mazda2 line. The Mazda2 was the automaker’s first modern, affordable vehicle, with a base price of US$17,700. The design of the Mazda2 was a clear departure from the previous Mazda models, with a modern, angular look. The Mazda2 was also the first model to be equipped with a hybrid powertrain, which included a 1.5L engine producing 77hp and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Mazda2 weighed in at 1,250kg, with a 0-62mph time of 12 seconds and a top speed of 106km/h. The Mazda3 was released in 2012, with the Mazda3 becoming the brand’s second model to be equipped with a Skyactiv powertrain. The Mazda3 was a five-door hatchback, with a base price of US$23,650. The vehicle was powered by a 2.5L Skyactiv engine producing 158hp, with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Mazda3 weighed in at 1,260kg, with a 0-62mph time of 10 seconds and a top speed of 155km/h.
Mazda’s First Electric Car
In 2013, the Mazda6 was updated with a new design and a range of new technologies, becoming the first Japanese car to be equipped with a hybrid powertrain. The vehicle came equipped with a 1.8L “e-CVT” engine producing 129hp, with a 6-speed automatic transmission. The Mazda6 weighed in at 1,620kg, with a 0-62mph time of 12 seconds and a top speed of 159km/h. In the same year, the company released the first ever mass-produced electric car in the world, the Mazda i. The Mazda i came equipped with a 3.0L “e-CVT” engine producing 182hp and a 6-speed automatic transmission. The i weighed in at 1,415kg and had a range of over 300km on a single charge, with a price tag of US$25,000.
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