1980
1980
- Masaji Iwasawa becomes president.
- Fully redesigns FWD Mazda Familia (GLC/323).
- Fully redesigns Mazda Titan.
- Mazda Familia (GLC/323) receives “1980-1981 Car of the Year Japan."
1981
- (North America passenger vehicle export regulations adopted.)
- Cumulative exports reach 5 million vehicles.
- Mazda (North America), Inc. and Mazda Motors Representative Office (Europe) are established.
- Fully redesigns Mazda Cosmo/Luce (929) series.
- Start of operations at Hofu Transmission Plant (Nakanoseki area).
- Establishes Autorama (begins to supply products from October '82.)
1982
- Production begins at Hofu plant (Nishinoura area).
- Introduces FWD Mazda Capella (626).
- “Japanese Car of the Year” is awarded to FWD Mazda Capella (626).
1983
- Begins local production in Colombia.
- Mazda Capella (626) is named Motor Trend magazine's import Car of the YearEand receives other prestigious overseas awards.
- Introduces new Mazda Bongo/Bongo Brawny van and wagon series (E-series) in Japan.
- Enters into an 8% capital tie-up with Kia Motors.
- Aerodynamic testing laboratory (ATL) is completed at Miyoshi Proving Ground.
1984
- Company is renamed as Mazda Motor Corporation.
- Establishes Mazda Foundation.
- Moriyuki Watanabe becomes chairman and Kenichi Yamamoto becomes president.
1985
- Fully redesigns FWD Mazda Familia (323) series for Japan.
- Established Mazda Motor manufacturing (USA) Corporation (MMUC).
- Opens Hiroshima Technical Research Center.
- Global Road Circuit opens at Miyoshi Proving Ground.
- Celebrates total cumulative production of 10 million passenger cars.
- Introduces all-new Mazda Savanna RX-7 (RX-7).
- Introduces new Mazda B-series.
- Fully redesigns Mazda Familia Van.
1986
- Introduces Festiva.
- Mazda Savanna RX-7 (RX-7) is named 1986 “Import Car of the Year” by Motor Trend magazine.
- Cumulative production of Mazda rotary-engine vehicles reaches 1.5 million units.
- Cumulative total exports reach 10 million units.
- Introduces all-new Mazda Luce (929) in Japan.
- Cumulative production of Familia reaches 5,000,000 units.
- Mazda R&D Center in Ann Arbor is completed.
1987
- Introduces Mazda Etude.
- Develops Mazda Speed Sensing Computerised 4-Wheel Steering System.
- Cumulative production reaches 20 million vehicles in Japan.
- Fully redesigns FWD Mazda Capella (626).
- Mazda opens a new research center in Yokohama, Japan
- Mazda begins vehicle production at a new U.S. facility, Mazda Motor Manufacturing (USA) Corporation (MMUC), in Flat Rock, Michigan.
- Mazda reaches an OEM agreement for micro-mini vehicles with Suzuki Motors Co., Ltd.
- Kenichi Yamamoto becomes chairman and Norimasa Furuta named president respectively.
1988
- Mazda Innovation (MI) Plan starts.
- Establishes Mazda Motor of America Inc. (MMA) to consolidate importation and distribution functions in the U.S.
- Consolidates Mazda’s U.S. R&D operations with the establishment of Mazda Research and Development of North America, Inc. (MRA).
- Starts import of Ford Probe from the US.
- Establishes a sales company in Europe (MME).
- Introduces Mazda Persona.
- Mazda develops Hi-Reflex coating, a new quality painting technology.
1989
- Spins off an industrial machinery division into a separate company.
- Fully redesigns FWD Mazda Familia (323).
- Establishes Mazda Eunos and Mazda Autozam dealership channels.
- Fully redesigns Mazda Titan.
- Tokyo Branch is renamed Tokyo Head Office.
- Introduces Mazda Scrum [Suzuki OEM].
- Mazda begins importing the Citroen BX to Japan.
- Introduces Eunos Roadster.
- Introduces Eunos 100 and Eunos 300.
- Introduces Autozam Carol in Japan.
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