How Mazda Shaped the Automotive Industry
The history of Mazda in the automotive industry is rich with innovation, evolution, and motorsports. From its inception to its modern-day achievements, the automaker has always been at the forefront of the car-making world. This innovation has provided the groundwork for modern features, technology, and design aesthetics. Mazda has pushed the envelope, forcing the competition to follow suit, and as a result, has left a mark on the automotive world.
By identifying needs and predicting trends, Mazda has always stayed ahead, inviting other automakers to try and keep up. The result: a company built on hunting down success and invention. This automaker has never just made cars that are more advanced, it's also built machines that are crafted around the driving experience. With its fair share of roots in the motorsport world, Mazda understands what it takes to make a vehicle perform well, under any conditions.
Every Great Super Hero Has an Origin Story
Through the Mitsubishi network, Mazda released the Mazda-Go in 1931. This 3-wheeled truck was the brand's first production vehicle. Through the 1930s, Mazda perfected this 3-wheeled truck and built its first passenger car prototype in 1940. The automaker continued to focus on trucks until 1960 when it introduced R360, the first Mazda passenger car.
Cars, trucks, vans, wagons—and even a bus—all sporting the Mazda name were produced and improved upon, throughout the 60s, and in 1967, the automaker released the Mazda Cosmo Sports. The first rotary engine car in production, the Cosmo hinted at the performance Mazda was capable of. In 1970, Mazda began exporting vehicles to the United States. Savanna RX-7, the processor for the RX-8, was introduced in 1978, continuing Mazda’s legacy of driver-oriented vehicles. The MX-5 was launched in 1989 and continues to be a staple on American roads today.
From the Race Track to the Street
Car and Driver magazine found a winner in the RX-2 when it repurposed one as a race car in 1973. In 1974, Mazda first entered 24 Hours of Le Mans and returned several more times before the iconic 878B No. 55 won in 1991. When it bought the naming rights for the world-famous Laguna Seca in 2001, Mazda cemented itself even deeper in the racing world. Mazda is still active in Grand-Am Racing and introduced the MX-5 Cup in 2014, which uses the fourth generation of the model. Mazda also has teams for SCCA and IMSA, showing that it’ll never stop pursuing the ultimate driver experience.
Committed to Evolution
A lot has changed since Mazda first came onto the scene. From early concepts to modern racing marvels to some of the best consumer vehicles on the road, Mazda has evolved as a company, and it has been the catalyst for many changes in the industry along the way.
Mazda is still committed to changing the automotive industry, and it remains a leader in efficiency, performance, and value. Visit Heritage Mazda Bel Air, Catonsville & Towson at 1 Olympic Place Suite 1120, Towson, MD 21204 or contact our sales staff online today and let us show you how the rich history of Mazda has helped this brand generate some of the best vehicles on the market today.
Image Credit: Mazda