architect

It seems a few people on this board are under the impression that Ford owns Mazda. Before you go passing along bad information, get your facts straight.

Fact:
Ford owns 31% of the stock in Mazda.
Ford "borrows" ideas from Mazda.
Mazda is owned by Mazda.
Ford helped Mazda through a period of financial crisis.
My RX8 is not a Ford.
Fords are still a POS.

Thanks

Jedi54

iTrader: (7)

you have a lot to learn my young padawan...

Gambit

Fact:

Mazda is a publicly traded company, and is owned by stockholders.

33% of which are Ford Motor Company

ProCharger GT

Oh this is good..

DeViLbOi

iTrader: (1)

I have to agree on one point...Ford's are a POS...that fact has obviously been checked...may be the only one though. As for you ProCharger...I don't want to hear a damn thing from you until your little Rustang gets a block. :P

ProCharger GT

Try making that rollerskate you call an RX-8 do a burnout w/o dropping it from 9000 RPM's

And don't make me turn around from my desk and smack you.

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Ford owns a 33.9% share in Mazda. Ford is highly dependent on Mazda for cash flow.
Mazda has been providing Ford with complete vehicles for years (B-Series trucks for example) and chassis are completely "borrowed" for Ford vehicles (Escort/323 for example). In turn, Ford builds Mazda vehicles here in the US (like the CD3 [6] along with the Fusion, Milan, and Zephyr and the CD2 [Tribute] Escape). Its not really "borrowing" - it is complete cross-development like every other automotive partnership in the industry.
Mazda is owned by the shareholders, of which Ford is the single largest, making it in control.
True.
True.
Often true.

I can do one in reverse with only 4000 RPM. Get a grip.

expo1

33.4 % which gives Ford Controlling Interest. So while Ford doesn't "OWN" Mazda, Mazda does what ever Ford wants.

ProCharger GT

LOL @ reverse Whats the top speed in reverse?

DeViLbOi sits next to me at work, he's just being his normal tool self

SureShot

Except when Ford said kill the rotary and Mazda said NO F**K'N WAY!
Then Mazda said OK - we'll put in a back seat..

MazdaManiac

iTrader: (3)

Ford never said "kill the rotary" and Mazda never took a stand on it one way or another (from a corporate POV).
Mazda stopped selling rotary-powered vehicles here a decade before they stopped selling them in Japan. There was never a time over the last 40 years where Mazda wasn't assembling rotary motors.
Ultimately, it was Ford executives that ensured that the '8 got built - almost right from the start of development.

SureShot

True -
It was more like
Ford: "Hey Mazda, we think you can make more money with pistons."
Mazda: "Take this car for a drive and you will understand our passion."

Gambit

I still dont' understand the logic that says 33.4% is a controlling interest. I thought you had to have over 50% do do whatever you want


maybe something about the other 66.6% being split evenly so the 33.4% overrules them....i dunno

Kane

iTrader: (1)

Yep, all about % owned. Ford has the most of any one individual entity.

SureShot

It's the difference between a majority & a plurality.
Many of the others tend to go along with the richest guy says.

chickenwafer

iTrader: (9)

No, you're right. You have to 51% to rule, and Ford only has 33.X% of the shares. But they are the single largest shareholder, but even then, if Ford votes one way and everyone else votes another, then Ford doesn't get there way. It's just more likely they do since they are the largest shareholder.

I still laught everytime I see that. I like how you sneek it in on unsurprising moments. We need to do it again and get better footage this time.

expo1

The 51% rule doesn't seem to apply to a Japanese Company, looking for a good link to back that up.

Kane

iTrader: (1)

Considering how diversified the remaining shares are...it would be a small miracle for Ford to lose a vote.

This all assumes there are not some wacky corporate by-laws etc... BTDT, lawyers can do all kinds of crazy stuff.

tjbourgoyne

I didn't understand it either until it was explained to me Japanese laws on all this are different from our own. What's weird is that a big comany like Ford could become weaker than Mazda in terms of finances but Ford would still control Mazda. There are real examples of this in Japan with other companies. It would be like a local produce guy reduced to selling watermelons out the back of his truck on the highway controlling Chiquita brands International.

laythor

From wikipedia: PS this has nothing to do with japanese laws... these are pretty universal provided the company has a 2/3rd rule.

Rems31

We all know how accurate wikipedia is...12.3L Renesis anyone?

alnielsen

iTrader: (4)

That only means that they can block something from changing in the company. Ford can round up enough like minded share holders and acquire their proxy votes to get their people on the Mazda B.O.D. Then they can steer the company.

architect

Objection; Speculation.
Objection; Sustained.
Continue with known facts.

puch96

I looks like you haven't seen the latest quality reports from JDP. The cars are changing... It's people that are not. Everybody still thinks that Fords are POS.
It all depends on what you are looking for in a car....

puch96

oh... and to the OP, there are no secrets in the automotive industry anymore...
You will be surpriced at how automotive companies share resourses and components....

Have you ever wondered how the Ford Ranger looks like the Mazda B-Series trucks?

Or how the new Escape is almost identical to the Tribute? Both interior and exterior...