1588
- Ramelli invented the first rotary piston type water pump.
1636
- Pappenheim invented a gear type pump.
1769
- James Watt invented the first rotary steam engine.
1799
- Murdock also invented a rotary steam engine and succeeded in generating power.
1901
- Cooley manufactured a rotary steam engine in which both inner and outer rotors rotate.
1908
- Umpleby advanced Cooley’s steam engine into a rotary type internal combustion engine.
1923
- Wallinder, Skoog, and Lundby announced their joint research on the rotary engine.
1938
- Sensaud de Lavou further advanced the rotary theory.
1943
- Maillard devised a compressor by applying the rotary theory.
1951
- Felix Wankel collaborated with NSU to promote his rotary engine research and development.
1957
- Wankel/NSU built a prototype DKM rotary engine.
1958
- Wankel/NSU built a prototype KKM rotary engine.
1959
Jul.
- Wankel completed the type KKM250 rotary engine.
1960
Jan.
- Wankel/NSU tested their rotary engine in public.
1961
Jul.
- Mazda made a technical contract with NSU and Wankel.
Nov.
- Mazda completed its own first prototype rotary engine.
1963
Apr.
- Mazda organized Rotary Engine Research Department.
1964
Sep.
- A prototype sports car powered by a rotary engine is unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.
1967
May
- Mazda announced the completion of the rotary engine.
The Cosmo Sport was introduced into the domestic market. 
1968
Jul.
- The Familia Rotary Coupe was introduced.
1969
Sep.
- Mazda exported rotary engine cars for the first time (to Australia and Thailand).
Oct.
- The Luce Rotary Coupe (front-wheel-drive) was introduced.
Mazda's rotary engine car cleared the US Federal Government emissions test. 
1970
Apr.
- Mazda received award from Japanese Mechanical Engineering Society for the commercialization of the rotary engine.
May
- Export of rotary engine cars to Europe (Switzerland) started.
- The Capella Rotary (powered by 12A unit) was introduced.
Jun.
- Export of rotary engine cars to the United States started.
Dec.
- Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 100,000 units.
1971
Sep.
- The Savanna Rotary was introduced.
Oct.
- Cappella G, the first rotary-powered automobile with an automatic transmission, was introduced.
- Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 200,000 units.
1972
Jan.
- The Capella Rotary Coupe completed 100,000km endurance run, through eleven European countries and with its engine fully sealed.
Nov.
- The first series production car with full emission control package, the Luce Rotary was introduced.
1973
Feb.
- Mazda’s rotary engine car cleared the U.S. 1975 emission standards, and this fact was confirmed by EPA test.
May
- Luce AP (REAPS-2) was the first vehicle approved under the anti-pollution incentive tax in Japan.
Jun.
- Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 500,000 units.
Dec.
- The Luce AP Grand Tourismo powered by 13B engine was introduced.
1974
Jul.
- The Parkway Rotary 26 was introduced.
1975
Mar.
- The Roadpacer was introduced.
Oct.
- The Cosmo AP was introduced featuring a low emission rotary engine with 40% improved fuel-efficiency.
1977
Jul.
- Cosmo L Landau top was introduced.
Oct.
- Luce Legato was introduced.
1978
Mar.
- The Savanna RX-7 was introduced.
Nov.
- Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 1,000,000 units.
1981
Oct.
- The New Cosmo and Luce Rotary were introduced.
1982
Aug.
- The world’s first turbo-charged rotary engine model was added to the Luce/Cosmo (929) series.
1983
Sep.
- The RX-7 was face-lifted and the world-first turbo rotary engine model was added.
1985
Oct.
- The RX-7 was entirely redesigned.
1986
Apr.
- Cumulative production of rotary engine cars reached 1,500,000 units.
Sep.
- The Luce was entirely redesigned.
1990
Apr.
- The Eunos Cosmo debuted featuring the world’s first three-rotor rotary engine (20B-REW).
1991
Jun.
- The Mazda 787B achieved overall win at the 59th Le Mans 24 Hours race.
Oct.
- The HR-X concept car (with hydrogen RE) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.
Dec.
- The RX-7 was completely redesigned (with a 255PS 13B-REW unit).
1993
Oct.
- The HR-X2 concept car (with hydrogen RE) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.
1995
May
- First public road trials of a hydrogen RE vehicle in Japan.
Oct.
- The RX-01 concept car (powered by a type MSP-RE experimental engine) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.
1996
Jan.
- The RX-7 was face-lifted (engine output increased to 265PS).
1998
Dec.
- The RX-7 was face-lifted (engine output increased to 280PS).
1999
Oct.
- The RX-EVOLV concept car with the RENESIS experimental engine was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.
2001
Oct.
- A design prototype of the Mazda RX-8 (powered by the RENESIS) was unveiled at the Tokyo Motor Show.
2003
Apr.
- The Mazda RX-8 (with the RENESIS) introduced.
2003
Oct.
- RX-8 Hydrogen RE (development vehicle) was unveiled.
2004
Oct.
- RX-8 Hydrogen RE trials began on public roads with approval from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
2006
Feb.
- RX-8 Hydrogen RE launched on limited release basis
