Editor’s note: This story is part of a special section on the 100th anniversary of Mazda to be published in the Jan. 27 print edition of Automotive News.

Mazda wasn’t always Mazda, and the company it was born from didn’t always make cars.

The company, which began as Toyo Cork Kogyo Corp., eventually picked the name Mazda as a way of paying homage to Jujiro Matsuda, the second president of Toyo — the pronunciation of his family name was similar.

Additionally, Mazda comes from Ahura Mazda, the god of harmony, intelligence and wisdom in Zoroastrianism.

Follow the company’s journey from humble beginnings in Japan to a global producer of automobiles.

1920

Toyo Cork Kogyo Corp., a producer of cork and machine tools, is founded by Shinpachi Kaizuka in Hiroshima, Japan.

1921

Jujiro Matsuda becomes president of Toyo Cork.

1927

The company becomes Toyo Kogyo Co. Ltd.

1929

Prototype 250 cc two-stroke engine built.

1930

  • Production plant constructed in Hiroshima.
  • Six prototype motorcycles built; 30 are produced and sold.

1931

Production begins of a 3-wheel truck, the Mazda-go, with a load capacity of about 440 pounds. Featured on the fuel tank is Mitsubishi’s triple-diamond logo, because until 1936, Mazda vehicles were marketed through Mitsubishi’s sales network.

1940

Company builds prototype of a small passenger car.

1945

Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima but miraculously spares Mazda’s factory. The company lends part of its building to house the prefecture government. Production of 3-wheel trucks resumes.

1950

Introduction of the Type-PB 6-passenger 3-wheel car, Type-CA 1-ton 4-wheel pickup and Type-CT 1-ton 3-wheel truck.

1952

As part of an advertising campaign, the Type-CTL1 3-wheel truck completes a 1,000-km nonstop run from Hiroshima to Tokyo.

1957

Cumulative production reaches 200,000.

1960

First 2-door passenger car, the R360 Coupe, is introduced.

1961

Mazda enters into technical cooperation with NSU/Wankel in West Germany to develop the rotary engine.

1962

  • Assembly in South Korea begins.
  • Carol 600, first Mazda 4-door passenger car, introduced.

1963

Assembly in South Africa begins.

1966

A new Hiroshima car assembly plant is completed.

1967

  • Company’s first rotary engine vehicle, the 2-door Cosmo Sport, introduced. Two make it to the U.S. as official imports of the Curtiss-Wright aviation company.
  • Exports to Europe begin.

1968

A Canadian sales company is established.

1970

Mazda Motor of America (N.W.) Inc. is established in Seattle.

1971
Mazda debuts the rotary-powered RX-2.

1972

Mazda Technical Center and Toyo Kogyo U.S. Representative Office established. The rotary powered RX-3 debuts.

1975

Mazda Motor of America (Central) Inc. is established.

1977

Oil supply worries drive up U.S. fuel prices. Mazda builds a compact car to achieve greater fuel efficiency called the 323, or Familia in many overseas markets. U.S. marketers opt for a more American-sounding name — GLC, or Great Little Car.

1978

Introductions of the rotary-engine RX-7 sports car, 626 midsize car and B-series pickup.

1979

Ford Motor Co., seeing the wisdom of owning part of a company with a lineup of proven small cars, buys a 25% stake in Mazda.

1981

Mazda Technical Center and Toyo Kogyo U.S. merge to form Mazda North America Inc.

1982

Mazda sells its 1-millionth passenger vehicle in the U.S.

1984

  • Toyo Kogyo Co. Ltd. changes its name to Mazda Motor Corp.
  • Company announces plans to build an assembly plant near Detroit in Flat Rock, Mich.

1986

Mazda’s annual U.S. sales peak at 379,843.

1987

Mazda moves into a new North American headquarters in Irvine, Calif.

1988

  • Mazda’s U.S. operations undergo reorganization, with the consolidation of Mazda Motor of America (Central) Inc. and Mazda Motor of America (East) Inc. into Mazda Motor of America Inc., and the creation of Mazda Research & Development of North America Inc.
  • Mazda dedicates an all-new $23 million r&d center in Irvine.

1989

Mazda introduces the MX-5 Miata roadster at the Chicago Auto Show.

1990

Mazda enters the U.S. SUV market segment with the 2-door Navajo, built by Ford.

1991

  • Mazda announces plans to enter the U.S. luxury market with the Amati brand. Financial and market factors prompt the company to pull the plug on it 14 months later.
  • The 4-rotor 787B wins Le Mans, making Mazda the first Japanese manufacturer to win the endurance race.

1992

Ford purchases 50% of Mazda’s plant in Flat Rock, and it is renamed AutoAlliance International Inc.

1993

Assembly of the 1-millionth Mazda at the Flat Rock plant.

1994
Mazda introduces the Millenia luxury sedan. A supercharged high-output, fuel-efficient Miller-cycle engine (in the Millenia S) is the first automotive application of Miller-cycle technology in a mass-production vehicle.

1996

Ford takes a controlling stake in Mazda, increasing its equity stake to 33.4%.

1997

  • Operations consolidated under the new name Mazda North American Operations, headquartered in Irvine.
  • Mazda introduces its new “Winged M” brand marque worldwide.

2000

  • Mark Fields becomes CEO of Mazda at age 38. He will go on to become CEO of Ford in 2014.
  • Mazda launches its first global messaging strategy: Zoom-Zoom, emphasizing its vehicles as performance-oriented and engaging.
  • Tribute crossover introduced in conjunction with Ford.

2002

MAZDASPEED performance badge introduced.

2008

As a financial crisis threatens the auto industry, Ford raises cash by selling down its share of Mazda to 13% from 33.4%, giving up control. The companies retain a 50-50 ownership of Flat Rock.

2009

Mazda introduces a lightweight combination of engine, chassis, suspension, transmission and body components called SKY that indicates Mazda’s next-generation vehicles. SKY is later named SKYACTIV Technology.

2012

  • The last rotary-engine Mazda, the RX-8, is discontinued.
  • Mazda ends assembly at Flat Rock, leaving Ford to run the plant.

2014

Mazda opens an assembly plant in Salamanca, Mexico, to supply small cars globally.

2015

Ford sells its remaining shares of Mazda.

2017

Toyota Motor Corp. announces it will take a 5% stake in Mazda and build a $1.6 billion U.S. assembly plant at a location to be determined.

2018

Mazda and Toyota announce their jointly operated plant will be in Huntsville, Ala.

2019

Mazda reveals its first mass-market electric vehicle, the MX-30, at the Tokyo Motor Show.

Source: Mazda, Automotive News research