Mazda motor corporation was founded by Jujiro Matsuda in Hiroshima Japan off the back of a tragedy. A fire ravaged Matsuda's Toyo Cork Kogyo’s factory in 1925.
Matsuda was shocked by the loss of employees and shifted his focus back onto the machine industry. He pounced on the opportunity to start building three-wheeled trucks, all manufactured in-house while his competitors used overseas engines and other parts.
Jujiro was passionate about "improving the quality of people’s lives and the development of my country". He named the three-wheeled truck "Matsuda Go", after his family name, it was around this time that the "Mazda" began to be used.
From humble beginnings, the Japanese car company has grown to close to 50 000 employees under the leadership of Masimichi Kogai.
Mazda has produced several iconic cars during its history, such as the rotary-engined RX-7 and the MX-5 roadster. The future is electric and the MX-30 will be Mazda's first battery-electric vehicle when its launched later this year.
It's a mark of a great company that can celebrate its centenary, an accomplishment Jujiro Matsuda will be extremely proud of.