Hiroshima-based Automotive Manufacturers Mazda is celebrating its 100th year or Centennial year with special events throughout 2020. First on the list is the Geneva Motor Show in March where Mazda will display its centenary anniversary themed exhibits. Second major activity for the Zoom-zoom brand is the Mazda Open Day 2020, slated for 22 – 24 May at its corporate headquarters.
Prior to the above major activities to commemorate the centennial year, Mazda held a soft ceremony at its Hiroshima HQ to kick off its centennial celebrations. The ceremony was attended by some 500 people from top management to various employees.
Mazda;s President and CEO Akira Marumoto expressed, “Mazda originated as a company producing cork and then took the path to manufacturing automobiles. Now, our cars have found friends with many customers from over 130 countries and regions. We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the customers, dealers, suppliers, business partners and the local community, who have supported us over the years through good and bad times, to whom we owe our 100 years of existence.”
“As we look ahead to the next 100 years, we will continue to put people first and cherish our ‘uniqueness of co-creating with others,'” he added.
Over a 100 years, Mazda has reached plenty of milestones through the course of a century. Here are some of the major milestones in ten decades.
1920 - Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. Ltd. is founded
1931 – First 3-wheeled truck Mazda-go went into production
1960 – Mazda R360 Coupe debut, first four-wheel vehicle
1967 – Mazda 110S Cosmo Sport with rotary engine debut
1970s – Established biggest distributor in USA
Debut of the RX-7 (Savanna RX-7)
1980 – Mazda Familia (323) 5th generation was Car of the Year
1984 - Company renamed to Mazda Motor Corporation
1989 - Mazda MX-5 debut
1991 – Mazda 787B won 24-hour Le Mans title, first Japanese marque to accomplish that feat
2002 – New generation Mazda 6 and Zoom-zoom tagline became official
2008 – Mazda2 won World Car of the Year
2012 – Mazda CX-5 debut. SKYACTIV and KODO – Soul of Motion became mantras at Mazda
2016 – Mazda MX-5 fourth generation was Car of the Year
2017 – Mazda and Toyota entered into partnership
2019 – New generation Mazda3 debut
2020 – Centennial year
