IRVINE, Calif.  — A logo's evolution reflects the unfolding of a brand's story through time and captures its spirit and aspirations for the future. Over its 90 years of existence, the Mazda brand has experienced a rich and fascinating evolution, and its logo has grown into one of the more recognized and respected symbols in the automotive industry.



1936

This is the first recorded corporate Mazda logo. It was the registered trademark for Mazda when production began on its three-wheel trucks. The name "Mazda" derives from Ahura Mazda, a god of wisdom, intelligence and harmony, from the earliest civilizations in western Asia. The name also is said to derive from the anglicized version of Jujiro Matsuda, the founder of Mazda's automotive business.

Mazda also introduced this brand symbol in 1936, which was inspired by the emblem of Mazda's hometown. It expresses the brand's strong link to Hiroshima city, which today is still home to the company's corporate headquarters. The peaks in the logo's middle form a stylized triple "M" symbolizing "Mazda as a motor manufacturer." The wings on both sides represent Mazda's agility, speed and ability to soar to new heights.

Both the corporate and the brand logos were introduced at the same time to ensure that those who saw it on the company's products knew immediately that Mazda's roots lay in Hiroshima.



1959

The introduction of this classic "M" logo coincided with the launch of Mazda's passenger cars in 1959. The first vehicle to wear it was the Mazda R360 coupe - a vehicle that broke with conventions and featured several cutting-edge Mazda technologies.



1975

This timeless logo was introduced at the same time as Mazda's new corporate identity. Today, 35 years later, the logotype remains an intrinsic element of Mazda's visual identity.



1992

Introduced in 1992, this brand symbol was accompanied by Mazda's 1975-introduced corporate logo. Its shape expresses the dimension of wings, the sun and a circle of light, and was ultimately the take-off point for Mazda's current logo.



 1997

This new logo was globally introduced in June 1997. It depicts the Mazda "M" whose distinctive "V" shape embodies the company stretching its wings as it soars into the future. It represents the creativity, the sense of mission and vitality that are Mazda - in other words, the quest to continuously grow and improve. In 2000, this philosophy was enhanced with the introduction of the Zoom-Zoom tagline to express the "emotion of motion" built into Mazda vehicles. The Zoom-Zoom ethos, still very much embodied in the logo, soon appeared in the new generation of vehicles, which brought the company further along on its road to success.

This logo, and the spirit it communicates, represents a symbol of excellence and a promise to Mazda customers worldwide. It expresses the company's commitment to providing high-quality products that also deliver fun-to-drive excitement.



2008

In 2008, Mazda began the introduction of a new global visual identity. Without changing the Mazda brand symbol itself this new identity appears in all communications and symbolizes the successful direction the company has embarked on in which evolution and innovation are its core values.

The new visual identity includes a new "dynamic wing" graphic and Zoom-Zoom lettering now placed at an angle to express movement and the bold, distinctive nature of Mazda Motor Corporation.

Celebrating its 40th Anniversary in the United States in 2010, Mazda North American Operations is headquartered in Irvine, Calif. and oversees the sales, marketing, parts and customer service support of Mazda vehicles in the United States, Canada and Mexico through nearly 900 dealers.  Operations in Canada are managed by Mazda Canada, Inc., located in Ontario; and in Mexico by Mazda Motor de Mexico in Mexico City.