Who Makes Mazda?

Mazda is owned by the Mazda Motor Corporation, based near Hiroshima, Japan. Back in 1979, the Ford Motor Company bought shares in the company and owned over 33 percent of the company by 1995. By 2015, the shares were sold and the Ford Motor Company no longer owned part of Mazda. Learn more about where your favorite Mazda models are made, about the Mazda name, and more with the team at Cooley Mazda.

Where is Mazda Made?

Most Mazda models are crafted in Japan manufacturing plants, but there are quite a few Mazda factories located in other areas of the world. These include Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Russia, China, and Mexico. Come 2021, Mazda models will begin production in the U.S., which hasn’t happened since 1992. There’s a plan to open a production facility in Huntsville, Alabama in partnership with Toyota. This plant is predicted to manufacture over 300,000 vehicles in a year.

U.S. Production History

Back in 1987 until 1992, the classic Mazda MX-6 was produced at the Flat Rock Assembly Plant in Flint, Michigan. Since 1987, Mazda North American Operations has been located in Irvine handling sales, marketing, parts and customer service support for cars sold at over 600 Mazda dealerships in the United States and Mexico.

What Does the Mazda Name Mean?

The first time the name “Mazda” appeared was in 1931 with the Mazda-Go auto rickshaw. During this time, the company was named “Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd”, as a producer of manufacturing machine tools and didn’t actually adopt the name “Mazda” until 1984. This name was derived from two sources. The first, Ahura Mazda, the Persian god of light and wisdom. The second source was derived from the name of the company’s founder, Jujiro Matsuda (pronounced “Mazda” in Japanese).

Learn More About Mazda at Cooley Mazda!

If you’re looking to learn more about the Mazda name, our models, buying vs. leasing, or more, our team can be of service. Contact us with any questions today and you’ll be one step closer to driving off in anew Mazda of your own.