Mazda: 90 years of history through its logo

The first thing that identifies a car brand is the badge located at the front of each car. Simpler, closer to the original, edgier or simply restyled, the badge of the brands suffers some changes as years keep running for the brands and is also part of their history. Throughout its 90 years of existence Mazda hasn’t been an exception and its logo has kept evolving along with its cars.

The first recorded corporate Mazda logo was presented in 1936. When the company started its production of three-wheel trucks, it simply featured its name, derived from Ahura Mazda, a god of wisdom, intelligence and harmony, from the earliest civilisations in western Asia. The name is also said to be derived from the anglicised version of the name Jujiro Matsuda, founder of Mazda’ automotive business.

On the same year Mazda also introduced the brand symbol, inspired by the emblem of Mazda’s hometown. The badge expressed the brand’s strong link to Hiroshima city which is still today home to the company’s global headquarters. Forming a stylised triple “M” the peaks in the logo’s middle symbolised “Mazda as a motor manufacturer”. The wings on both sides represent Mazda’s agility, speed and ability to rise to new heights.

The corporate and the brand logo were introduced at the same time in order to make sure that whenever customers saw them on the company’s products they would know immediately that Mazda’s roots lay in Hiroshima.

In 1959 the Mazda badge suffered a change. The new logo featured a classic “M” and was launched simultaneously with the brand’s first passenger cars. The first vehicle to wear it was the Mazda R360 coupe which featured several cutting-edge Mazda technologies.

The next logo change happened in 1975. The new logo was introduced at the same time as Mazda’s new corporate identity and its’ timeless design made him last until today as an intrinsic element of Mazda’s visual identity.

In 1992 the brand symbol suffered yet another modification. The new badge was accompanied by Mazda’s 1975 introduced corporate logo. Its shape expresses the dimensions of wings, sun and a circle of light, and was the first step on the way to Mazda’s current logo.

The current Mazda badge was introduced globally in June 1997. It portrays the Mazda “M” whose distinctive “V” shape embodies the company stretching its wings as it soars into the future. Mazda’s goal is that this logo represents a symbol of excellence and a promise to its customers worldwide.

Finally in 2008 Mazda introduced a new global visual identity. Without changing the Mazda brand symbol itself, this new identity which appears in all communications symbolises the successful direction that the brand is going. 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.

(The logos will be presented by chronological order)

Also check Mazda's logo history on the make's profile.