At the Forum, Mazda explained Mazda's CSR activities and environmental and safety technologies, presented the new-generation SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, and offered a test-ride of vehicles equipped with SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY. Following these events, discussions were held on the theme of the new-generation SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY between Mazda engineers and participants, who submitted their candid views.
- Period:March 2012
- Venue:Mazda R&D Center Yokohama
- Participants:About 260 people from the general public
<Opinions from Participants>
- Direct talking with Mazda engineers was a precious experience for me. I realized Mazda's passion through their products, which I did not notice before, and came to love Mazda even more. I want the Company to hold events like this more frequently.
- I felt that Mazda employees always seriously consider what they can do and continue seeking optimum solutions. I hope that Mazda will always continue to maintain its corporate attitude in pursuit of the "Sanpo-yoshi" principle*1
- I enjoyed test-ride of the CX-5, as I experienced smooth acceleration, excellent maneuverability and handling unimaginable for the vehicle's size, good visibility, and a sense of unity with the vehicle. I wish I could have had a longer time for test-ride and talking with engineers.
- I felt empathy with Mazda's attitude of maximizing existing technologies, without relying on electric devices (as in hybrid and electric cars). I am greatly interested in Mazda, which has maintained its unique stance.
- I hope that Mazda will continue to improve its internal combustion engines. I value Mazda's outstanding technology, and urge the company to better demonstrate such strength.
- *1"Sanpo-yoshi," literally "three-way satisfaction," means that commerce should not only benefit the buyer and the seller but also society as a whole.
A CSR seminar was held for university undergraduate and graduate students. The participants advanced their valuable opinions on Mazda's CSR efforts and the Mazda Sustainability Report.
- Period:March 2012
- Venue:Mazda R&D Center Yokohama
- Participants:About 50 university undergraduate and graduate students
<Opinions from Participants>
- Initiatives that deserve praise
- Social contribution activities deeply rooted in the local community (promoting the Mazda-no-Mori [Mazda Forest] program, allowing the use of proving grounds for local activities, etc.)
- Career meetings (four times a year) and Career Challenge System
- Mazda's unique environmental conservation activities in line with the Building-Block Strategy
- Areas that can be improved
- Social contribution activities in partnership with overseas regional companies
- Introduction about Mazda's human resource policies at overseas Group companies, via the Sustainability Report
- Descriptions of the respective activities with specific issues, targets, measures and results
Mazda held meetings with the neighborhood association presidents and the community center directors of the local community where the Mazda Head Office is located, to hear about local community issues and requests for Mazda, and exchange opinions with these community leaders.
- Period:November 2011
- Venue:Mazda Head Office (Hiroshima)
<Opinions from Participants>
- Initiatives that deserve praise
- Mazda is contributing to the local community in various ways, including the construction of a new ward of Mazda Hospital, cooperation in donating blood and resolving welfare issues.
- Local residents were pleased that Mazda enhanced the traffic safety of the community, by relocating truck entrances to reduce the impact on the neighborhood.
- Initiatives that are expected of Mazda
- Dispatching Mazda employees as volunteers for cleanup events of the neighborhood association
(in addition to volunteers for regional cleanups organized by Mazda) - Holding public lectures on vehicle manufacturing and medical care, as part of the community center's projects in partnership with a private company
- Dispatching Mazda employees as volunteers for cleanup events of the neighborhood association
Mazda employees participated in the council meeting of the local neighborhood joint association, to better understand the local community issues, hear specific requests to Mazda, and exchange opinions with local residents.
- Period:April 2011
- Venue:Nishinoura Community Center, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Meetings were held with executive officers and employees from the 21 divisions/departments in charge of producing the Mazda Sustainability Report to exchange opinions regarding two themes listed below.
- Period:
14 times in October and November 2011 - Themes:
1.Directions for the Mazda Sustainability Report
2.CSR activities implemented within each division/department and future CSR directions
Mazda promotes collaboration with universities, aiming to resolve business issues by obtaining new knowledge and viewpoints outside the Company, and to broadly contribute to society.
Mazda's Technical Research Center has long collaborated with the Graduate School of Engineering, Hiroshima University, conducting research primarily into advanced automotive technologies.
In February 2011, the two parties concluded a comprehensive collaboration agreement, which substantially expanded the range of partnerships in the fields of development and production, social science such as planning, management and marketing, and personnel exchange and human resource development.
In FY March 2012, the Collaboration and Partnership Promotion Committee, a body comprising members from both Mazda and Hiroshima University, held meetings twice a year (in April and October). At the meetings, the Committee members exchanged information on collaborative activities and had lively discussions on such themes as planning and implementation of specific measures, management and evaluation of the progress of the activities, and promotion of personnel exchange between Mazda and the university. Mazda also commenced a number of personnel exchange programs, including internships and dispatches of lecturers.
As part of its industry-academia collaboration efforts, Mazda implements joint research projects and exchanges views with various universities on a case-by-case basis.
