Taking Customer Requests from All Over the World into Account in Our Products

Customers living in different countries and regions demand different automobiles to fit their particular situations. At Mazda, we promote interchanges between our Japan Development Division and such Group members as Mazda Motors of America, and dealers in Europe, China, Southeast Asia and Australia, with our Global Marketing Division serving as the hub. This division works to improve customer satisfaction around the world by continuously seeking feedback as to what kinds of cars customers in different markets wish to own.

In 2007, we rolled out the CX-9 in the North American market. This seven-passenger SUV was designed and developed to meet the needs of the US market. The CX-9 has plenty of power, an impressive appearance, is fun to drive, solidly built and fulfills a variety of applications. Our goal in building the CX-9 was to create a unique vehicle capable of satisfying both the driver and the family sitting in the back seats, perhaps owned by a young, active family that seeks lively outdoor leisure activities, new and different experiences and enjoys meeting new people, or empty nesters enjoying the good life.

Universal Design

As part of its initiative to build people-friendly cars, Mazda pursues a universal design—devising concepts such as a driver position that will not be affected by the driver's physique and controls that can be easily used by anyone, regardless of physical strength—and developing and marketing cars with features that implement these ideas, all based on the fundamental principles of ease of posture and movement, simple and easy to understand controls, optimal physical and functional sensibility and safety.

Mazda is also engaging in basic research with the objective of achieving universal design. In fiscal 2006, we verified the applicability of techniques for quantitatively measuring and assessing the load on a person's upper body when getting out of an automobile as an index of torque on the neck and lower back. Further research will perform similar load assessments for persons who are small or lack physical strength.

Automatically Opening and Closing the Rear Hatch with One Touch

Mazda is offering a power rear hatch as an option on the MPV, which went on sale in 2006, and the CX-9, which went on sale in North America in 2007.

The system involves building a motor in the rear hatch that automatically opens and closes with one touch, making it useful when holding an infant or caring for persons with limited mobility. The system also detects limbs or objects getting caught between the hatch and the frame, and retracts automatically. Another safety feature is touch sensors where people are likely to get caught, and these sensors retract the hatch when activated.

Developing Vehicles for People with Special Needs

In 1995, Mazda led Japanese automotive manufacturers when it developed and marketed the Carol-i, a version of its Carol micro-mini car that featured a ramp to let people in wheelchairs get in and out of the car while remaining in their wheelchairs. Mazda has been engaged in developing and promoting vehicles for people with special needs ever since, with the aim of making vehicles that are kind to all, safe and pleasant to drive.

The i Series of vehicles for people with special needs consists of models that take into account the needs of the elderly and physically challenged, as well as ease of use for caregivers and drivers, such as models with lift-up seats that automatically elevate and rotate, allowing passengers to get in and out with ease. The series also includes models whose chassis are low to the ground, allowing persons in wheelchairs to get in and out without having to leave their wheelchairs by using a ramp with a gradual slope, thus reducing demands on caregivers and patients.

The MPV, which went on sale in February 2006, comes equipped with a model that offers a passenger side lift-up seat and another model that offers a second row lift-up seat, wherein the left-hand seat in the second row of seats automatically elevates and rotates. Based on data from the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare that indicates that in recent years more than 70% of caregivers are women aged 50 and over, Mazda is building cars that concentrate on ease of use on the part of caregivers and comfort for passengers, including minimizing energy requirements for getting into and out of vehicles, simplicity of operation, safety and ease of handling.

Web Tuning Factory: Customize Your Car

The Mazda Web Tuning Factory, which went live in February 2001, was the first website in the automotive industry to allow customers to purchase a car online that meets their personal specifications, with whatever combination of options they may desire. The site also allows customers to examine calculated cost estimates and make appointments for consultations at Mazda dealerships.

In FY2006, Mazda unified the display specifications of this website with those of the car lineup pages of its official website, making it easier for our customers to use. We also added 18 new models to the site, including special editions and compact cars, bringing the total number of models available to 30, as of July 30, 2007.

We have also made improvements to the dealership consultation version of this site, wherein customers can call up data at a Mazda dealership on customizations that they have decided online and discuss them in person. In FY2006, it is now possible to get printouts of cost estimates onsite at our dealerships, allowing consultations to be conducted more smoothly and faster than before.

Satisfying the Needs of Our Customers

At Mazda Engineering & Technology Co., Ltd., a Mazda subsidiary, we make extra efforts to satisfy the needs of a wide variety of customers, because we believe that fulfilling the needs of even a few people will enrich the automotive environment. Hence, we are operating in a variety of sectors, including our Special Needs Customization Project, which develops vehicles for people with special needs; our Pleasure Customization Project, which responds to demand for cars that express individuality or are suited to particular interests; and our Business Customization Project, which designs, develops and outfits special purpose vehicles,such as refrigerated trucks.