If Honda cars are like Elvis Presley in automobile world, Mazda cars will be Michael Jackson that has its own style with the well-known rotary technology in their engines just like Michael’s moonwalk.

Mazda (Mazda Motor Corporation or マツダ株式会社 in Japanese, pronounce as Matsuda Kabushiki-gaisha), was founded by Jujiro Matsuda in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan. It is one of the Japanese car makers that will never overlook by all car lovers. The company name “Matsuda” is derives from Jujiro Matsuda.

The name Mazda derived from Ahura Mazda, who is the God (or more accurately the embodiment of good) in the dualist Zoroastrian faith. Jujiro Matsuda wants to build Mazda cars just like Ahura Mazda who is the lord of the universe, creator, judge and righteousness.

Mazda Logo

Mazda Company started in the 1920s by manufacturing machine tools to vehicles. The first Mazda car was the Mazda-Go in 1931. It was a three-wheeled open truck that has a motorcycle at the front. During World War II, the company produced weapons for the Japanese military.

In 1960, Mazda introduced the Mazda R360, followed by Mazda Carol in 1962. The R360 is a very light Kei car with curb weight of 380 kg. During the 60s, Kei cars is one of the most wanted cars in that era because of inadequate gasoline after World War.

Mazda Cars Rotary Technology

One of the biggest Mazda’s successes is the development of the Wankel rotary engine. The rotary technology makes Mazda different from any other automaker. The first Mazda car with rotary engine is the Mazda Cosmo Sport of 1967, and later on RX-2, RX-3, RX-4, RX-7, and until today, the Mazda RX-8.

The biggest advantage is the light weight rotary engine able to produce the same power that a heavy piston V6 or V8 engine produces. When the power is same but the weight is big different, Mazda has gained a lot of advantages especially in racing.

Famous Mazda Cars

Over the years, Mazda had built many famous and reliable cars include the Mazda Miata, Mazda 3, Mazda RX8, Mazda RX7, Mazda 2, Mazda 5, Mazda CX7, Mazda Protégé, Mazda CX9, Mazda 626, Mazda Bongo, Mazda Tribute, Mazda Navajo, Mazda Millenia, Mazda GLC, Mazda B-Series trucks, and many other great cars.

To save the world’s environment, Mazda started to introduce hybrid cars such as Mazda Tribute Hybrid that give better mileage and less emission.

Mazda Competitors include Nissan Cars, Fiat Cars, Suzuki Cars, Renault Cars, Mitsubishi Cars, Tata Cars, Dongfeng Cars, and some other automakers.

As we can see more and more cool concept cars introduced by Mazda at Auto Show, we will definitely see more and more great Mazda cars in the future. Mazda,