Ford Motor Company and Mazda Motor Corporation had previously established one of the best alliances in the automotive industry, particularly in the 1960s. This alliance developed when Mazda was experiencing financial problems. Ford Motor Company then came to the rescue. Their association lasted for years and during this period they were able to carry out many joint ventures, particularly in terms of the development of various vehicle models.
Due to this association or alliance, most car buyers developed the notion that the vehicles produced by Ford and Mazda were similar. However, this notion might not have always been correct as there were many differences between the two automakers as well as the vehicles they produced. To help car buyers understand the differences between the two companies, this article provides some of the areas where Ford and Mazda differ.
1. The nature of each company
One of the key differences between Ford and Mazda is the nature of each company. Ford Motor Company is basically an American multinational automobile manufacturer based in Dearborn, Michigan. Mazda, on the other hand, is a Japanese car manufacturer based in Hiroshima, Japan. Mazda was established by Jujiro Matsuda and a small group of Japanese investors in 1920, while Ford was founded by Henry Ford and another American businessman in 1903. Ford was established more than a decade before Mazda and this could be considered a big difference.
In addition to this, Ford’s initial operation was limited to the US, before the company grew and expanded its business in Europe and other parts of the world. The main focus of Mazda’s operation, at first, was Japan and other Asian countries, such as China. Its markets expanded when the company succeeded in developing the rotary engine and began exporting its vehicles abroad. Mazda was then able to enter the US markets. Therefore, it could be correct that the alliance of the two automakers was formed during the time that Mazda started operations in the US and the company was going through a difficult time in its financing and needed an investor. But, the alliance did not incorporate the two companies into one and because of this, it is correct to consider the two as separate entities that help each other.
2. The type and number of vehicles they produce
Another key difference that separates Mazda from Ford is the type and number of vehicles they make. Mazda’s lineup consists of cars, sports cars, and crossovers/SUVs. Ford Motor Company, on the other hand, is engaged in the production of cars, crossovers/SUVs, trucks, hybrid and electronic vehicles, as well as commercial vehicles. Although some of the vehicles produced by the two automakers used to share some key components, each of these vehicles was sold under different names and price points. Ford produces most of its vehicles at the company’s North American assembly plants, while Mazda, on the other hand, assembles its vehicles in Japan and ships them to other regions where the company operates.