Mazda's Story

The Japanese Mazda was founded in 1920 by  Matsuda Jyujiro, initially under the name of Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. In 1927 the brand changed its name to Toyo Kogyo Co.  Slowly they diversifying its production and manufacture first motorcycle and, later, small tricycles for urban freight transport and in 1931 began to produce Mazdago, a three-wheeled wagon.

The word Mazda is a blend of the name of the brand's founder, Matsuda Jyujiro ("tsu" in Japanese is pronounced "Z") and the Assyrian god Mazda.

Ahura Mazda is the abstract and transcendant god of Zoroastrianism. Ahura is the adversary of Angra Mainyu, the Zoroastrian representation of evil. Ahura has no image and cannot be represented in any form . Ahura Mazda, derived from the Old Persian Aura-Mazda ("Aura" - Lord, "Mazda" - Wisdom) symbolizes the supreme deity of Zoroastrian and Mazdean religions.
Ahura Mazda is refered to as Ormazd in modern Persian.


During World War II the brand started to produce weapons for the Japanese army, leaving the Type 99 rifle widely known.  Mazda's first vehicle to be produced was the sporty Mazda R360 coupe launched in 1960, followed by the Mazda Carol in 1962.

Like other Japanese brands, Mazda began its expansion in the late sixties. With Carol and Family models fully consolidated in the domestic market, the company began exporting in 1967 the first units to Europe, and three years after the United States.

Logo
The brand logo has changed a lot. The latter, which represents two wings, dating from 1997. Coincidence or not, 3,500 years ago, the symbol of Mazda, the only god of the Assyrian religion, or Zoroastrianism, also were two wings.

Current Logo: Capturing the spirit of Mazda, the stylised “M” evokes an image of wings in flight and symbolises the Mazda’s flight toward the future. The “V” in the centre of the “M” spreads out like an opening fan, representing the creativity, vitalty, flexibilty and passion that is Mazda. The symbol as a whole expresses the sharp, solid feeling that Mazda will be seeking in all of its products. The dynamic circle symbolises our readiness to spread our wings as we enter the 21st century.