The prophet Zoroaster founded an ancient religion in Western Persia, exhorting people to worship the Creator as the source of goodness, requiring good thoughts, words, and actions, and renouncing evil. There is a deity in this religious system named "Ahura Mazda Ahura Mazda". Matsuda Shigejiro uses this as the company name, and has the intention of chasing light and kindness. It is also said that "MAZDA" is the giant god who created the iron and ancient wheel civilization, with the meaning of intelligence, rationality and coordination.
Mazda's history dates back to 1920, when its founder, Matsuda, started in Hiroshima from the production of wine bottle corks, the company was originally called Toyo Cork Industries, which was renamed Toyo Industries in 1927.
The founder of Mazda, Shigejiro Matsuda
In an environment that cannot be called a natural place, what has always inspired him is the love of monozukuri.
Now let's reveal the secret, which can be called Mazda's DNA - the life and thoughts of Matsuda Shigejiro.
"The mechanical industry is your own area of expertise"
The budding period of monozukuri: The youth of Shigejiro Matsuda
Shigejiro Matsuda
In 1875, Matsuda Shigejiro was born in Hiroshima as the youngest child in a family of 12 siblings. Unable to attend a regular school, he went to Osaka at the age of 13 and began an apprenticeship at a blacksmith shop.
Since then, he has had the idea that the mechanical industry is his area of expertise. With the idea of learning more excellent technology, he traveled to various factories such as shipyards and arsenals, using his work break to study everywhere, and tirelessly studied the principles of machinery and manufacturing.
Where dreams begin
"Monopoly patented Matsuda type water pump" produced in 33-square-meter manufacturing plant
When Matsuda Shigejiro was 31 years old, he rented a dilapidated cottage of about 33 square meters in Osaka and founded the "Matsuda Manufacturing House". On the way, he also experienced setbacks, such as his own efforts to develop a product, but later found that the product has actually started to sell on the market, but he can always turn the frustration into a driving force, conduct a thorough study of the existing product, and finally let the improved Matsuda type water pump with a monopoly patent come out.
He has the concept of "if you don't use good machinery and equipment, you can't create products that make the world happy", so his factory always actively introduces new high-precision instruments manufactured overseas. For manufacturing, he always has a different love than ordinary people.
Large whirlpool pump for drainage during the Matsuda Works period (1913)
The tragic experience of the factory being burned down completely
Make him determined to "work for a lifetime"
Compress the cork planks
In 1918, when he was in his 40s, Shigejiro Matsuda returned to his hometown of Hiroshima and established the "Hiroshima Matsuda Manufacturing", an important industrialist in the business world at that time. In 1920, on the recommendation of many people around him, he joined the "Toyo Cork Industry" with the goal of revitalizing the economy. Although this does not belong to the mechanical field that Matsuda Shigejiro specializes in, he aims to succeed in the company and actively proposes new product ideas and starts new challenges. One of the challenges is how to make pressed stopper boards. At that time, the original president retired due to illness, and Matsuda Shigejiro took over as president, and after various hardships, he successfully manufactured new products that can be used as heat insulation materials and cushioning materials, and put the company's operations on the right track.
However, in 1925, no one expected that a fire would burn all of Shigejiro's efforts. He was also saddled with huge debts, and even employees were killed in the fire. These dealt Shigejiro a heavy blow.
However, he did not stagnate, but reflected on himself from this major accident, recalled his original intention - "one industry in a lifetime", and was determined to rely on his professional field machinery industry to make a comeback. The company name Toyo Industries was also introduced at this time.
At that time, Toyo Industries Co., Ltd
With the continuous improvement of technology, we will promote the development of society
Entered the three-wheeled truck manufacturing industry
Mass production three-wheeled truck Mazda "DA type"
Coinciding with the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923, the automobile as a means of transportation received great attention from the public. In the context of the times at that time, Shigejiro chose the three-wheeled truck manufacturing industry and was determined to show his fists.
Expensive four-wheeled cars are prohibitive for many, and tricycles make it easier for more people to own than expensive cars. With the idea of "improving the happiness index of national life and contributing to the development of the country," Shigejiro devoted himself to the tricycle manufacturing industry.
At that time, other manufacturers in Japan relied on imports of engines and other major parts, Shigejiro was committed to making parts as far as possible by independent research and development, he often worked with technicians to study selflessly, and gradually laid the foundation of Mazda as an automobile manufacturer, realizing the mass production and sales of three-wheeled trucks. The name of the car was named after Shigejiro as "Mazda "Mazda". The use of the term "MAZDA" was also used at this time.
The ideal infused into the corporate logo
Corporate logo of Toyo Industries
Toyo Kogyo's corporate trademark, in which the word "Gong" represents industry is placed in a circle symbolizing the earth, and this design indicates Shigejiro's desire to contribute to the world with his own professional field of mechanical engineering. The concept of contributing to society with technology and the never-ending pursuit of technology have been passed down from generation to generation at Mazda.
In 1931, Mazda began to enter the automobile manufacturing industry starting from the production of three-wheel trucks. Production of cars began in 1940. In 1967, he signed an agreement with Wankel to obtain the right to produce rotor engines, thus beginning a period of rapid development of Mazda. From 1967 to 1979, the company produced 10 million Mazda cars. In 1987, the Company began production of Mazda vehicles at its plant in the United States, with an annual production capacity of 240,000 units. By 2002, Mazda had produced more than 35 million vehicles.
Rotor engine
Such a rapid development speed, thanks to Mazda's research and development capabilities, after the introduction of rotor engines from Wangkel, Mazda has studied and improved its technology and successfully developed a rotor engine with electronic control of 6 air intakes. This kind of engine uses a microcomputer to control the engine load state, automatically adjust the idle device and the exhaust gas recirculation device, so that the engine works smoothly, thereby reducing fuel consumption and reducing the exhaust gas discharge. The rotor car engine rx5, rx7 and rx8 models that Mazda put on the market are very popular with the majority of users.
Due to Mazda Motor Corporation's long-term and extreme pursuit of production, product technology and market expansion, after continuous huge investments, coincided with the emergence of an economic bubble in Japan in the early 1990s, in 1995, the company for the first time experienced a huge operating loss and was once ranked as Japan's second-largest loss-making company, with an annual loss of up to 155.2 billion yen, and this loss has been continuous for 6 years.
At this time, Ford, a partner with 20% of Mazda, extended a helping hand, Mazda cooperated with Ford to adopt the new logo, And Mazda's foreign CEO Mark Field led the development of Mazda's "New Century Plan" in November 2000, aiming to build an automobile company that can adapt to different market needs and ensure sustainable development in the future through a strong product lineup. Seagulls flying in the oval with wings spread, and at the same time form the "M" line. "M" is the capital letter of "MAZDA" xxx, which also indicates that the company will spread its wings and fly high, with infinite creativity and sincere service, towards the new century.
Mazda's new logo
The program has 4 cores: market, product, finance and talent development. After the implementation of the new plan, production fell by 15%. In 2002, Mazda achieved a net profit of $65 million, the most profitable year since 1982. In 2008, Mazda had 18,500 employees in Japan, two manufacturing bases in Hiroshima and Hofu, and an R&D center in Yokohama; overseas, Mazda built 19 factories in the United States, Thailand, South America, and the Middle East, including a research and development center in the United States.
After 1992, Mazda tried to enter the Chinese market, FAW Hainan Mazda began to operate, and launched two models, Fumeilai and Prima, and launched the Mazda 3 in 2005. In 2006, the cooperation with Hainan Automobile was terminated.
In May 2002, the M6, which inherits the intrinsic spirit of the Mazda brand, was launched. As soon as it appeared in the Japanese market, it was favored by people from all walks of life in Japan, and in just two months, it created a outstanding performance of selling 10,000 vehicles. The m6 also went all the way to xxx in the highly competitive European market, creating the best ever sales of 36,000 units, which shocked automakers and dealers in Europe and the United States.
Born in a cold and bitter background, he left his hometown in his youth and was turned over by fate countless times. Even so, looking back, for Shigejiro, what makes him not afraid of setbacks and perseverance is a "letter" word. Believing in oneself, believing in people, and believing in heaven, in this way, we gave birth to a fearless heart, let the surrounding areas prosper together, and reap success - such a thought has been retained until today's Mazda, inspiring all Mazda people to constantly challenge and move forward!