The Mazda reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Mazda

Mazda Millennia

Mazda Motor Corporation is an automobile maker based in Hiroshima, Japan.

The Ford Motor Company has owned 25% of Mazda since 1979, and it was increased to a 33% controlling stake in 1992. Ford has based many of its models on Mazdas, such as the Ford Probe, Escort, Laser, Festiva and the Mercury Tracer.

It had the distinction of having the first foreign CEO to head a Japanese car company, former Ford CFO, Scottish-born Henry Wallace in 1996. Many Japanese media outlets at the time reacted in shock and horror, and wondered if Ford would cut jobs. He was followed by Ford President James Miller in 1997, and Mark Fields in 1999 until 2001, when he was tapped to lead Ford's Premier Automotive Group and handed the reigns to Lewis Booth. Lewis Booth went back to Ford in 2003 and Mazda Director Hidekazu Imaki is now CEO.

There have been many stories about how it got its name. Some say it got its name from the Zoroastrian deity Ahura Mazda, while others say it was an anglicized pronunciation of the founder's name, Jujiro Matsuda. The most likely reason was that the name Mazda coincided with founder Matsuda's last name, who was known for his interest in spiritual matters, and may have chosen Mazda in honor of the Zoroastrians, and his own name.

Mazda manufactures or has manufactured such automobiles as:

• The Cosmo Sport sports car with rotary engine
• The Mazda 3
• The Mazda 323 also known as Ford Laser
• The Mazda 6 also knows as Mazda Atenza in Japan and Chinese-speaking countries.
• The Mazda 626 also known as the Ford Telstar
• The Mazda 929
• The Mazda B2500
• The Mazda B2600
• The Mazda E2000
• The Mazda MPV
• The Mazda MX-3
• The Mazda MX-5 also Mazda Miata sports car convertible
• The Mazda MX-6
• The Mazda RX-7 sports car with rotary engine
• The Mazda RX-8 sports car with rotary engine
• The Mazda Demio
• The Mazda Millenia
• The Mazda Precidia
• The Mazda Premacy
• The Mazda Protegé
• The Mazda Tribute
• The Mazda Xedos
• Spiano; a Keicar
• AZ-Wagon; also a Keicar
• Carol; also a Keicar

See also: MPV (multiple purpose vehicle).

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