Roidz

http://wot.motortrend.com/mazda-look...ar-168989.html

What do you all think? Who would make a good partner for Mazda?

Bladecutter

Nobody would, to be perfectly honest.

The Japanese and the Germans don't like to partner up, in any way that would actually give one the ability to be competitive.

Mazda has already done its thing with Ford, so they are done and over with.
Mazda would never survive a merger with GM, just ask Oldsmobile, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, and someday, Opel. Subaru is the only company to escape GM's clutches without being destroyed, and that's because they partnered up with Toyota.

Toyota and Honda aren't going to help Mazda.
Neither is Nissan/Renault.

Honestly, if Porsche hadn't had idiots running things a couple years ago, trying to take over VAG, I would say that a connection between Porsche and Mazda would be perfect.

You don't want Mercedes associated with you.
Just ask Chrysler how that turned out.

Fiat/Alfa/Maserati/Ferrari/etc don't have any need to give help to Mazda.
Plus, they have their hands full right now trying to convince Americans that they shouldn't buy these "improved" Chrysler products, and buy Fiats and Alfa's instead. That's not going to go over well this time next year when they start competing with each other for sales.

Who's left out there that isn't a small player in a small market aside from Hyundai? They aren't going to help Mazda. They would rather them drop off the face of the earth so they can have yet more market share.

BC.

monchie

I don't know, but its better if its a Japanese company...just my 2 cents.

RIWWP

iTrader: (2)

^ unfortunately, due to your currency's depreciation it isn't even worth that any more.

77mjd

I would say Mitsubishi...but partnering up with another company that is hanging on for dear life doesn't make sense. If things become dire I at least see Mitsubishi disappearing before Mazda does. Pretty much everything Mitsu makes is trash and focusing a revamped lineup on EVs is a huge mistake.


Frankly, the only partnership I could see working is with Chrysler/Fiat but I even see that as a longshot. And if there was any slight glimmer of hope for a new rotary vehicle, that article completely squashed it for me.

dannobre

iTrader: (3)

Who wants to kick in cash

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

McLaren or Lotus are my preferences. McLaren would be ideal (In my fantasy).

Toyota is truly an option. There could be much mutual benefit there. Hyundai is another that I'm quite impressed with presently. Mazda could share some US plants with them that are non union and producing quality products already. Their engineering and technology combined with Mazda's would be great. They are not dissimilar companies. Too much difference in objective is not good.

I hate to have to say it; I hope they don't get married to a Chinese company. Korean would be smart, maybe even an Indian group like Tata.

Paul.

Roidz

I wouldn't mind seeing them partner up with Hyundai. I think Hyundai is doing great things right now. I just hope something happens before it's too late because Mazda could use some help.

Roidz

RX8RX7

Bladecutter nailed it. Nobody would. Especially with the current economical climate. They would rather mazda just die off so they can spread the pie.

Mazda seriously need to re think their marketing plan. They have good products, but they suck so bad in marketing.

Last week, they put an ad in one of the chinese news papers, and the translation was so bad i had a hard time understand what the fuxking ad was trying to say, they pretty much used google translate then have some morons who obviously not that into marketing to correct the grammar and thats it. And honestlt if i never seen that ad in english and im not a mazda fan, i wont even know that ad came from mazda. Thats how bad it was.

So yea mazda, i understand you are trying to expand your market share into other areas, look at toyota, every chinese in new york just buy toyota and only toyota cuz they know nothing else. Ever thought of how to break into that market? I dont hink the guys working for u now had any damn clue, they hav the money and most of hem just pay the car off in cash, i mean real cash, not even a certified check. You want that mazda? Then u need to hire someone else.

Design1stCode2nd

Hyundai seems like the only one that might see a tie in with Mazda as a benefit. Dodge/Chrysler now has fiat for small call platforms and engines, Ford doesn’t need it and I doubt any of the Germans are interested. Maybe Honda, Toyota already has Subaru and Nissan has enough brands.

Bladecutter

If Mazda really wants to survive, what they need to do is make a top tier luxury brand, that they can charge gobs of money for, and rake in huge profits, for no real reason other than people don't want a Mazda.

It worked for Toyota, when they created Lexus.
It worked for Honda when they created Acura.
It worked for Nissan when they created Infiniti.

Hyundai wanted to create the Genesis Brand, but didn't because of the economic conditions at the time, and couldn't justify the extra expense of creating a new dealership model across the US, but their Genesis luxury cars aren't doing too bad in the market.

Look at Cadillac and Lincoln for American companies that rebadge countless vehicles, and slap on a $15k to $35k price tag increase in some cases.

Why Mazda hasn't done it yet is beyond understanding.
Then, they can sell their halo rotary powered God car under that brand with little to no issues.

BC.

Ianspeed

You mean Eunos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eunos_(automobile))? Not sure sporty Mazda can do luxury halo cars so well.

I thought the deal with Ford was going ok. I'm sorry to see it end with so many good engines and platforms coming down the pipe at Ford. Lets hope the new suitor agrees to keep the Rotary program alive.

Mazmart

iTrader: (12)

Blade, I hadn't really thought about it that way. It's a fact that having a high profit product is a huge deal. Where Mazda has moved in that direction is with the CX-9 but, being built in Japan the cost to produce it vs competition must be eroding the profit. I wonder if they (Mazda Corp Japan) use somewhat fixed prices per vehicle in Yen and/or how much negotiating must go on in order to keep prices in check (With Mazda North American Ops).

It's surely not the right time to create that luxury brand now unless Sumitomo Bank can be convinced to take the HUGE investment on. Toyota has been doing very competent luxury cars for at least 30 years including the Crown Super Saloon and Royal Saloon that existed long before Lexus was conceived. I'm not sure it's in Mazda's DNA.

I think they should do more rwd cars and take on BMW at their game. The RX-8 should have been a 3 series competitor in the first place with much less boy racer appearance and much more business attitude. Maybe they do need another RX-8 but without an identity disorder. Nobody should want to compare it to the Z cars. Maybe it needs another name and be the introduction to the higher tier brand. They can share costs even better than Hyundai did. The Genesis coupe and sedan were two different architectures I believe.

Okay, you made me gather my thoughts: Hyundai is the example and THE ROTARY is part of the solution. It would be an incremental introduction of a high line brand (Sharing enough parts, technology and architecture with Mazda's other products).

Paul.

RX8RX7

Hyundai already have KIA (which is really part of Hyundai), so there is zero reason for them to "Take Mazda"

I think all Mazda need is better marketing team ... sure everybody knows their zoom zoom thing but ... it gets kinda old and they need something newer.

kvndoom

Honda's the only company I could see helping, but Honda wouldn't think it has any real reason to.

...well they actually DO, since their cars have mostly lost all their mojo and soul. But Honda is stupidly ******* proud and can't even see its mistakes. Worse than the emperor's new clothes.

Now that Mazda has worked the bugs out of the DISI, Honda could benefit from finally having a good turbo engine, which is one thing it lacks sorely. The only turbo Honda had in this country was the RDX, and that is actually going back to the J35 V6 next year. Doesn't instill any faith. While the J35 is an incredible engine in its own right, the import industry as a whole is slowly shifting from the V6 to the turbo 4 to balance fuel economy and power.

A K24 Miata would be rather interesting... as would a 2.3T Civic Si... One can dream!

Nobody's going to pick up Mazda for rotary tech though. Now SkyActiv is a selling point. 40+ MPG gas engines that actually have some power, that's worth having access to.

Roidz

^^The new accord (I believe it's the accord) looks like a Hyundai Sonata, so maybe that's not a bad idea haha

RotoRocket

iTrader: (1)

Good God no!

Not Mitsubishi, which is in a death spiral, and for good reason.

While the overall Mitsubishi Keiretsu will live on, as it's a literal ward of the Japanese Government (especially in zombie banking), Mitsubishi Automotive should have been killed off a long time ago.

Tampa1stRotor

iTrader: (1)

Porsche would be a great match. Mazda has tried to emulate Porsche in the past, Porsche has no low middle end in the us, Mazda has no high end. Porsche badged 4 rotor mid engine rear wheel drive super car, yes please

HaydonGS

iTrader: (1)

Yamaha so we can have some rotary powered sport bikes :D.

In all seriousness Hyundai wouldn't be the worst thing but Mazda has built it's whole identity around doing its own thing and I'd hate to see them turn out like Mitsubishi. Although someone mentioned lotus, and while it isn't financially the best call, I think it could produce some sweet cars. Just my 2cents

HaydonGS

iTrader: (1)

Just ask Suzuki how it is working with Porsche.

milkis

it's a long shot but i want mazda to join hyundai so mazda can have "mobis" in their car.
i like the front windshield navigation mobis has. not sure if it's in the market.

TALAN7

I say Audi/Volkwagen. Audi already has a rotary heritage. Lotus would also be a good brand to team up with. Mazda could handle all the building for Lotus helping Lotus to manufacture at lower cost.

Mazdaspeed RX8 ver2

VW would destroy Mazda and what they want to do. I'll talk with my bosses in Tesla and see if they would take on creating an EV line for Mazda. With the push for green tech, it may be possible. Haha

usnidc

Tata motors. They have Jaguar and let them pretty much do whatever they want and just right checks. And Jag wants some entry level cars. Don't they have Land Rover also? Gives a new meaning to XK-R...