ASH8

I know it is not new news but for those interested FMC has finally sold all of it's remaining shares in Mazda Motor Corporation (Woo-hoo).

Mazda can be Mazda again! for those who can remember or were alive.

I know this wont go down well with my US friends but I was working at Mazda when this happened and everyone's stomachs had that ''heavy feeling'', yes Mazda was in trouble thanks to too many Rotaries and the oil crisis, but Ford only rescued Mazda because it was in Fords interest to do so, to finally learn how to make cars properly from the Japanese. If Mazda went under the Japanese government would have stepped in.

As much as I love the Rotary it really has been a bit of a poison chalice for Mazda.
To think back then Mazda was a larger car maker than Honda and Suzuki, in 1973 it was #3. I strongly believe the RE has held Mazda back, there has always been an issue when launching new products without clear air. Oil crisis 1974, GFC (RX-8), what is next.

Ford prevented Mazda's expansion and kept them down, good riddance.

Mazda has also said that the current Ford Ranger/Mazda BT50 UTE will be the last joint vehicle made (which is mostly Ford product anyway).
Mazda still wants to a UTE in it's range, come in the Toyota Hi-Lux.

Automaker tie-ups: Ford sells remaining stake in Mazda- Nikkei Asian Review

gwilliams6

I am a US friend and good riddance to Ford's ownership stake in Mazda. But I disagree with you on the rotary being Mazda's poison chalice. The rotary is what has kept Mazda different than the other cookie-cutter Japanese car makers. It has been, and is still the heart and soul of Mazda, and the main reason I have been owning ,driving and racing them these past 43 years.

ASH8

Oh well we all have opinions, you seriously believe the RE has been a sales winner?....OK.

RX-8 roughly 138,000 units worldwide over 10 years (95,000 of those in the first 2 years on sale).

That is my point, it has held Mazda back, every other mainstream Japanese Auto maker of the era both you and I have lived through moved on to include a variety of engines other than just 4 cylinder engines.
Mazda kept the 4 cyl and RE as their 'only power motor' for decades.
In the mean time all other Japanese brands apart from Mitsubishi past Mazda by in the sales race (Mazda was #3), and in the end that is what it is all about.
I would go even further to suggest Ford actually purposely held Mazda back while they had the controlling interest.
Sure Mazda experimented with 'bigger' (laugh) engines (like 1.8l V6 and 2.5l V6's in the 1990's, wow) but it was all too late and too small capacity and all in the wrong product/price.

History is great, all warm and fussy inside, but it don't put the food on the table.

Right now Mazda are in a prime position, (still the US is showing some sale potential, FINALLY, after 18 years of treading water and or going back-wards, fact).

Which way they (Mazda worldwide) go from now on will determine their success.

I had some heart when the CEO (the big boss) said at end of the RX-Vision launch 3 weeks ago, "keep your eyes on Mazda".... I trust it is not all sales/marketing BS.

I hope they have thought the next 10 years out, and I think they have.

Distributor heads (MNAO, MA, MME, MMUK, etc), retail Dealers around the world and their managers really have no excuses right now, production/supply is excellent, there is enough capacity, get on with it.

BTW: They still need their own V6.

gwilliams6

Only if they can come up with a Skyactiv V-6 will Mazda do it. They will never again go down the same road like with those Ford V-6s. If Mazda can get the fuel economy and decent HP with their 4-cyclinder engines, FI or not, then they won't need a V6, even though you seem to long for it.

Mazda never sought to be as big as those cookie-cutter Japanese brands. Yes they want and need to stay profitable. But maybe they just don't have the huge aspirations you seem to want them to have. I am perfectly fine with a profitable Mazda that remains small and niche and turns out the cars I want to drive. All those huge Japanese companies have lost sight of their quality along the way, and as a result have had massive recalls and other issues with their increasingly bland offerings.

ASH8

They can walk and chew gum too, sorry mate but your analogy is ridiculous, Mazda was equally bland about 5 years ago, it is ALL about sales, without them there can be no profit.

Profitable. OK, well lets start with the USA will we, over the last 10 years if you include the $500 mil loss in 2011, they are still in the red in USA. Only now are they starting to see results, a LONG way to go where you are.

Total production this financial year (1.56 millions unit) out of that not even 300,000 in USA, jeez even Australia is doing 110,000 this year and you guys are 15 times our population.

, Later.

gwilliams6

None of your argument changes anything. They can still survive if they keep selling those skyactive cars like they are now, and spend research money on the truly fun stuff. I think their US sales figures will never meet your expectations. WE don't care about that here as long as they stay in business and are able to keep making cars we love to drive. We don't care if they sell more Mazdas in Australia or Africa or anywhere, as long as they keep selling the good stuff here. ASH8 get over your fixations on their sales numbers. It is not always just about quantity, but more about quality !!

One quote from recent Car and Driver magazine article: "It’s this insistence on perfection in all things big and small that gives the CX-3 the win; its maker’s sixth straight comparison-test victory. We’re witnessing the birth of a new dominant species all right—not necessarily the subcompact crossover, but Mazda. "

ASH8

Nice motherhood rant, but as usual short on any facts or details like the majority of your posts, tell us all again how many rotaries you have owned, I forgot again, on second thoughts, no please don't.

Seeing you brought up the 'quality' thing gwilliams6....

Try these few recent defects from MNAO/MMC..on Skyactiv-G engines, Transmissions both Auto and Manual, aren't you lucky in the US that you never got their 'quality' Skyactiv Diesels.

There are that many new Skyactiv model TSB's I have given up posted them here, too hard, I have never seen so many defects in any singular Mazda model before, ever, yes Mazda will overcome them, the usually/always do.
Already 15 on the new ND.

Have a nice day

gwilliams6

As you well know, all cars from Rolls Royce to Subaru have had recalls or mechanical problems,especially newer models as the kinks are worked out. Mazda has never been immune to that. But overall their quality and innovation is hitting new standards and being recognized as such. The ONLY point I am making is that you seem to focus exclusively on negative sales figures (US compared with other markets) and now bad knocks on skyactiv cars. If they continue to sell well and they fix these issues will you give Mazda a break, please.

Personally I have never owned a skyactive Mazda and may never own one. I am far more interested in their possible next rotary car. And yes, they will have to get that one bullet-proof from the start.

I laugh at how folks get all in a huff about my rotary past and present. Chill out ASH8, you are too old for all that stress. LOL

ASH8

I am not in 'huff' about anything gwilliams6, but pleas you are looking a little silly if you don't believe the automotive world and any commercial business is not about 'sales numbers'.

Plant, equipment and staff has to OUTPUT a set quantity to be profitable, here we call it return on investment.

You continue to believe that selling 80 units a month (RX-8 or any car model) is a great for profits and sales.

Dokuji

Calm down you guys, lol... no more Ford is a good thing and another sign that Mazda is on a good track to success where they can take the risk of another Rotary in their lineup. Their Skyactive motors and new design language are definitely doing well for them. Thats what your average consumer wants; great styling and great economy and reliability, as well as affordability. Mazda is doing this better than anyone right now and it's why there is such a renewed excitement in their brand in both the business and consumer venues.

Having just had my first child, all those things are starting to be more and more appealing to me as well, and the sports car fanatic in me needs to start taking a responsible back seat until it makes financial sense to have all the toys i want.

In this same way, Mazda has put their rotary project on the backburner in order to regain independence and financial equity while they rebuild their brand image and integrity. When they are ready to take a calculated loss on another Rotary, they will.

Im super glad they are going to do another rotary, but im also super glad they are being smart about it and focusing on a lineup that works first and foremost.

The rotary will always be more of a liability, but at least they are keeping the heritage and spirit alive while trying to perfect the automobile and driving spirit for all market segments :P

gwilliams6

Don't put words in my mouth ASH8. I never talked numbers like you always do. I just said if Mazda can remain profitable then I don't care what country outsells the US. As long as we get the fun stuff here, Mazda can remain a niche brand and I am ok with that. Your dreams of Mazda becoming some huge car company to rival the other cookie-cutter Japanese brands is just wishful thinking on your part. Mazda doesn't have to be that big to survive and thrive.

ASH8

But Mazda in USA is not profitable, FACT, it is the ONLY major region which is draining down the profitability of MMC, October was the FIRST month in 21 YEARS that the BRAND in NA actually made it to the top 10 for the month...sales (numbers) make profit, when you have fixed operating costs as all Distributor and private Dealers have and you don't sell the NUMBERS you make a loss.

gwillims6, head in same and a memory loss...not a government worker were you gw.
Clearly you have zero business ability.

End

Dokuji

^^ i think its entirely possible they can get to that point in the next decade if they keep their focus and momentum, pumping out sexy beasts like they are now. :P even their boring cars look fantastic. I really want a cx3 for the family car ^_^

ASH8

Agree, that is what it is all about, that is what investors (stock holders want) it is where Mazda goes from now on will determine their prosperity and they are definitely going in the right direction.

CEO said to expect shorter lead time for new product and updates, rather than waiting up to 4 years for a model refresh it will be every 2.

CX-3 is a great little car, but it is small.

Dokuji

Exactly. Also, i have a small family, so it'll be a perfect compromise for us. I will still wait at least 4 years or so 'til the price is actually justifiable, but i definitely want one.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

My lady had a Nissan Juke (great vehicle) for three years but wanted more room and has been waiting on the CX-5 so she just picked one up.








But while we were waiting, I was eye balling this, it was so nice. If they sold it with the 2.5L I would drive one as a daily.

05rx8mazda

iTrader: (4)

Unfortunately the Cx3 isn't selling nowhere near as many as Mazda has expected. The new Mazda 3 isn't selling as much as the previous models (I think price is to blame).

the Cx5 is the one selling like HOT cakes at the moment.

9krpmrx8

iTrader: (46)

Yeah I was blown away at prices. I mean they come with tons of features and are really nice but 30k for a Mazda 3 is nuts.

gwilliams6

ASH8 you know nothing about me or my business ability. I have owned and run a successful US business for over three decades. Mazda will survive and make money in the US despite your nay-saying. Even you don't have all the cost vs revenue figures for MNAO and all its dealers, so stop making your statements as if they were fact.

END

Dokuji

Well its still pretty new to market. Most passively interested consumers dont even know it exists yet. But hey, if it does flop ill just be able to get one cheaper i doubt it though, its getting glowing reviews everywhere.

Gambit

Low oil prices will do that...

7krayziboi

I'm happy Mazda is independent (woohoo first post)

Bladecutter

I'm having a hard time telling if you're just agreeing that all car companies have production issues with keeping quality levels on their products high, or if you're actually telling us that we should stop buying Mazda products because their quality sucks in comparison to the competition.

I remember asking this before in another thread, but that TSB for the oil consumption test:

Out of the vehicles that they perform an oil consumption test on, what percentage of the vehicles actually are burning over a liter of oil in 1200 miles, and what part(s) in the engine has failed, or was improperly manufactured that is causing the oil consumption? And which engine is getting the most tests performed on it in the first place? (good thing there are only 2 SkyActiv-G engines sold in the US, so that should make it easy for you to research).

The type of failure is just as important as how many vehicles are affected by the issue. A transmission whine caused by an improperly installed bearing in the transmission by a new employee at the drivetrain factory is entirely different than if Mazda used engine cases that had a design defect that caused that bearing to fail. A single employee only builds so many units, where as bad design can affect many thousands of units over the same time period.

BC.