Alright, so a lot of people usually think Mazda in general is import, but technically isn' the engine Ford, which technically means its domestic. And didn't Ford buy out Mazda?

So, I'm just curious to know your opinions...

Is Mazda as a whole Import or Domestic?

Or do you think certain models like the RX7 or RX8 should be considered as Import, as where the 6, 3 & etc should be considered as Domestic?

Just wondering what you guys consider youself as.

For me this is like comparing an Eagle Talon and Mitsu Eclipse. Some have the Mitsu 4G63 engines and some have the Chrysler 420A engines. But even owners with the Chrysler engine claim DSM... aka Import.

So what do you Mazda guys consider yourself?

Mazda ships their vehicles to the U.S. That would be an import.

Ford owned a majority stake in Mazda. Past tense. They sold most (or all? can't recall offhand) of the stock to try and right their own sinking ship (Cougar Ace II ?!!? lol)



But I agree w/the overall premise that Import v. Domestic has been a blurred line for years now.

fords doin so goddamn shitty they had to sell a ton of their stake in mazda. last time i heard it was like 13 or 9 %

ford does not own majority stake anymore; mazda is no longer a ford-controlled interest but essentially independent. financially mazda bought back some of ford's stock and i think the japanese sumitomo bank also acquired some share. ford and mazda still have ties and parts and plant-sharing deals, and this really does benefit both. ford gets good platforms to develop their smaller cars and mazda gets to manufacture cars here in the US and access to v6 engines. to claim (of think of) mazda as a *domestic* company is pretty stupid; toyota and honda manufacture way more cars here than mazda. and more often than not design and engineering flow from mazda to ford. in the 70s and 80s most of the japanese *fords* were just rebadged mazdas. the original escape was engineered w/ mazda using the platform loosely based on the old 626's. the probe was just a rebodied mx-6. the fusion uses the atenza/6 platform, as does the edge and i think flex. mazda takes a few v6 engines from ford, but ford also takes 4-cylinders from mazda. the only things that're strictly rebadged mazdas are the old navajo and the b-series. and i'd say most people know that mazda is japanese

Import and not because I don't like domestic cars just that it is a Japanese company and control is from Japan. Ford sold off part of it's stake in Mazda (not all) and has been the only domestic company not to ask for a bailout (yet)

Or do you think certain models like the RX7 or RX8 should be considered as Import, as where the 6, 3 & etc should be considered as Domestic?

So what do you Mazda guys consider yourself?


Well, since my RX-8 was built in Hiroshima, and Imported to Canada, I drive an "import".

I used to own a Merkur; It was built in Cologne, Germany and Imported to Canada. Even though it was produced in a Ford plant and sold through Ford (Mercury) dealers, it was also an import.


In the global economy, I think the only thing you can hang your hat on is where your particular car was built when considering domestic vs. import.

For example, if you look at car company ownership, ALL of them are multinational: Until recently, did that make all Chrysler products 'imports'? Or, are all recent Rolls Royces & Bentleys German due to their corporate ownership?

All RX-8's are built in Japan, so what's the issue?

Now............I'm sure other models are built here in the US, but this is an RX-8 forum right? Guess how I voted. :uhh:

how to put this nicely....

Mazda is an Import company based in Japan.
RX-8's are built in Hiroshimo
Ford does not own Mazda

the only mazdas built here is the 6 and the tribute

This thread made me :lol:

I B T L
(insert picture of Lt. LaForge (sp?) from Star Trek)

Mazda is very Japanese. Ford never had more than a 33% share, which was a controlling interest, but they now have a 13% share. They are still the largest stockholder, and they will continue their strategic alliance, but Mazda is back in control. And, as I said above, Mazda is very Japanese.

I'm turning Japanese, I think I'm turning Japanese, I really think so... :uhh:

Mazda is very Japanese. Ford never had more than a 33% share, which was a controlling interest, but they now have a 13% share. They are still the largest stockholder, and they will continue their strategic alliance, but Mazda is back in control. And, as I said above, Mazda is very Japanese.

D'oh - right, controlling share, not majority. Big difference.

:beerchug:

I just learned more about Mazda's and RX8's than I ever knew! So awesome!

Anyways, honestly I myself look at Mazda as Import, always have. But of course you have some people out there that will debate you to the end of the earth about it.

I do greatly appreciate all the feedback from everyone.

To be honest the whole reason I asked is because in June, there is going to be a huge car show charity event. Within the event we are going to seperate the Imports and Domestics and have them in parked seperate sections. Hence why I asked. I did not want to put Mazda's on the wrong side and have a bunch of pissed off Mazda's owners, but on that same note, I knew I could not just go off of what I knew about Mazda, since I don't own one. Now next time when I talk to the guy that's planning the event, and tell him what types of cars are going to be on the Import and Domestic side Mazda will be on the right side.

Thanks again for everyones' amazing knowledge. I apologize if I seemed ignorant about the subject, in truth I just wanted feedback from you guys, the Mazda owners.

Import....of course.

My baby's birthday is tomorrow, from the production line in Japan. She'll be 3, is @ basically 43K and running strong... :)

Import....of course.

My baby's birthday is tomorrow, from the production line in Japan. She'll be 3, is @ basically 43K and running strong... :)

Very nice, Tell you baby I say Happy Birthday!

It is hard to argue that Mazda is not an import company. But I care more about the company than country of origin. (I hope Chrysler and Toyota burn in hell more than anything else)

But of course you have some people out there that will debate you to the end of the earth about it.



id really like to meet that person and abuse them with a bat disabuse them of their incredulous notions

With the exception of Mazda6 and Tribute (does Mazda still makes it?), all other Mazdas are made in Japan. Mazda is a Japanese company. So that means Mazda is import through and through. Mazda's design philosophy is very Japanese too.... more so than Nissan or Toyota.

Alright, so a lot of people usually think Mazda in general is import, but technically isn' the engine Ford, which technically means its domestic. And didn't Ford buy out Mazda?

So, I'm just curious to know your opinions...

Is Mazda as a whole Import or Domestic?

Or do you think certain models like the RX7 or RX8 should be considered as Import, as where the 6, 3 & etc should be considered as Domestic?

Just wondering what you guys consider youself as.

For me this is like comparing an Eagle Talon and Mitsu Eclipse. Some have the Mitsu 4G63 engines and some have the Chrysler 420A engines. But even owners with the Chrysler engine claim DSM... aka Import.

So what do you Mazda guys consider yourself?

http://www.rx8club.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=135795&stc=1&d=1237940890

With the exception of Mazda6 and Tribute (does Mazda still makes it?), all other Mazdas are made in Japan. Mazda is a Japanese company. So that means Mazda is import through and through. Mazda's design philosophy is very Japanese too.... more so than Nissan or Toyota.

Well the Tribute is built by Ford at a Ford Factory and sold by Mazda

And the Mazda 6 is built in Flat Rock Michigan and has more US domestic parts content than even a Chevy pickup truck.

So those two would be Domestic Built, but Mazda is still a Japanese company.

ZoomZoomH;2931717 see post #15.

Mazda's BT-50 pick up is made in Thailand.