Beginning. The history of Mazda started in 1920. However, the company only started to manufacture cars in 1959 when its first small passenger car was launched onto the market — the R360 Coupé model.
Development. Mazda cars became available on the European market in 1967. Next, the United States was conquered and production was also started there. After the 1970 crisis, a quarter of the company's shares were acquired by Ford. This cooperation resulted in excellent models — the 323 and 626. In the 1990s, the company went through a period of difficulties. Its cars were not selling very well. A decision was made to launch new brands in Europe, Japan and the United States. Mazda, due to frequent changes of the logo type amongst other things, had problems with recognisability.
Present. At the beginning of this century, Mazda was quite stagnant. A breakthrough occurred only in 2004 when new models were introduced — the Mazda 6, Mazda 3 and RX8. These models were valued by drivers for their reliability, high quality and originality. Later, the following models appeared: a new version of the MX-5, the crossover CX-7 and the Mazda 2. After a few years’ break, Mazda opened an official branch in Poland in 2008.
Contribution to the automotive industry. Mazda engineers used the Wankel engine. The first attempts were made in 1960. Seven years later, the Cosmo Sport model with the Wankel engine was launched. A movable piston is the basic characteristic differentiating this drive element from those created by the competition. In the classic engine, the piston performs rotational sliding motions, and in the Wankel engine the piston has a different shape and it revolves around its own axis. The main advantages of the Wankel engine include a small size and low weight, a simple structure, low vibration and noise levels and the achievement of high rotational speeds and high mechanical efficiency. The main disadvantages of this engine are working areas which are difficult to seal. The Wankel engine burns a lot of fuel and emits a lot of exhaust fumes. Today, Mazda is the only car manufacturer in the world that manufactures the rotational Wankel engine and the MX-5 roadster — 500,000 cars of this model were sold.
Trivia. Mazda's greatest sports success is the victory of the 787B prototype in the Le Mans 24-Hour Race. It was the first time a Japanese car had won this race. The 787B is also the first winner with the Wankel engine.
The currently manufactured popular models include: Mazda 2, Mazda 3, Mazda 3MPS, Mazda 5, Mazda 6, Mazda 6MPS, Mazda MX-5, Mazda MX-3, Mazda RX-8.
Tyres. Mazda as a global car manufacturer with good reputation very often cooperates with tyre manufacturers in the area of original equipment. The original equipment of Mazda cars included
Toyo tyres, such as Toyo Proxes R31B and R27B (Mazda 2), Proxes R32 (Mazda 3), J48C (Mazda 5), Tranpath J38 (Mazda Premacy) and Tranpath R23 (Mazda Premacy). Mazda 3 also uses Yokohama Avid S34D tyres, while the Miata MX-5 model uses
Yokohama ADVAN A11A tyres. Very fruitful cooperation was established between Mazda and Bridgestone. Mazda cars have been equipped with the following
Bridgestone tyres: B380 XZ, ER30 AZ, ER300, RE050 AJZ, RE050 EZ and RE050 GZ. The Mazda 626 model used B391BZ tyres, just like the Mazda MPV.