Mazda2
Sports Wagon
04.22.2020
A story hundred years in the making, Japanese automaker Mazda recently celebrated its centenary on the 30th of January this year.
A 100 years ago, on the 30th of January, 1920, Mazda, then known as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. Ltd. was established in Hiroshima. Initially the company started out as a producer of cork, over the next decade, under the leadership of Jujiro Matsuda, Mazda slowly transitioned to the manufacture of machine tools and finally introduced its first vehicle in 1931, the Mazda-Go – a three wheeled truck which was effectively a motorized rickshaw – the first of its kind which Mazda would continue to update for years to come.
Since Mazda was based in Hiroshima, automobile production ground to a complete halt during World War II. The destruction caused by the atom bomb couldn’t stop Mazda’s pioneering spirit as the company returned to doing what they do best which was building vehicles that enabled people to celebrate the joy of driving. In the 50s, Mazda started making three-wheeled trucks before building its first passenger car in 1960, the Mazda R360 which paved the way for the future of the brand. The P360, or Mazda Carol, followed in 1962 to provide Mazda’s first four-seat car.This era was significant for Mazda as the iconic Cosmo Sport 110S of 1967 was rolled out – the world’s first production model powered by a rotary Wankel engine.
Since the Cosmo Sport, Mazda has become synonymous with rotary engines. Through the 70s and 80s Mazda went on to build iconic models like the RX-7, MX-5 and the Le Mans-winning 787B in 1991. With the historic win, Mazda became the first Japanese and Asian automotive manufacturer to win the 24 Hours of Le Mans, and still remains the only brand ever to win the race with a non-piston engine.Two years prior to the Le Mans victory Mazda rolled out its signature vehicle in 1989 with the MX-5, also known as the Mazda Miata. The two-seat convertible has been in production ever since, spanning four generations, and with more than a million cars sold it’s one of the most popular sports cars ever made.
Looking back at the milestones Mazda has achieved over the decades, it’s clear to see that the Japanese Automotive giant has continuously reinvented itself by adding to an already elegantly designed and technology driven range of vehicles. A series of significant launches like that of the Mazda6 in 2002, the CX-5 in 2012 with the new KODOtakumi design and Mazda’s full suite of SKYACTIV technologies and more recently in 2019 with the all-new future ready 7th generation Mazda3 that has ushered in Mazda’s premium status; Mazda’s journey to excellence continues with the dawn of a new decade.
On the occasion of Mazda’s centenary celebrations, Akira Marumoto, Representative Director, President and CEO of Mazda commented saying,“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.” Marumoto added, “As we strengthen co-creation and cooperation with all those connected with the company, we will continue to challenge ourselves to create unique products, technologies, and experiences that our customers love.”
According to Towell Auto Centre (TAC), the sole distributor of Mazda vehicles in the Sultanate of Oman, “By taking huge strides towards safety, great design, amazing performances and innovation in technology, Mazda has created a signature experience for their customers over the years whilst at the same time staying true to their philosophy of producing vehicles that are human centric. This in turn has helped them build strong bonds with their customers all around the world. Looking to the future, Mazda has already taken the road to excellence with significant upgrades in design, driving performance, fuel efficiency and the overall premium feeling of driving a Mazda. The next 100 years are going to be equally exciting for Mazda lovers if not more.”
In Oman, TAC is recognised as a trusted name in customer service and a pioneer in the automobile business since 1972. A group company of the W J Towell Group, TAC takes off from the principle of its parent company and ensures the easy availability of high quality motor products coupled with the highest standard of service to its esteemed customers.
Mazda has brought quality to the roads of Oman, and TAC has made owning a Mazda an absolute joy, thanks to their excellent after-sales service, availability of genuine parts for all Mazda models, their efficient staff, amazing promotions and innovative solutions for a better customer experience.
To find out more about Towell Auto Centre’s showrooms and servicing centres, you can log on to www.mazdaoman.com, or just walk into any one of Towell Auto Centre’s 9 Mazda showrooms situated across the Sultanate of Oman. Now you can also download the revamped Mazda Oman mobile app to get easy access to everything related to Mazda in Oman.
