Ford Motor Company and the 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 rescue. Their partnership lasted for years and within this period they were able to conduct a lot of joint ventures, particularly in terms of developing several vehicle models.
Due to this partnership or alliance, most car buyers developed a notion that the vehicles produced by Ford and Mazda were similar. However, this notion might not have always been correct since there were many differences between the two car makers, as-well as the vehicles that they produced. In order to help car buyers understand the differences between the two companies, this article provides some of the areas where Ford and Mazda differed.
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 car manufacturer based in Dearborn, Michigan. Mazda on the other hand, is a Japanese car maker 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 other American businessman in 1903. Ford was established more than a decade earlier than Mazda and this could be considered a great difference.
In addition to this, Ford’s early operation was confined 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 became successful in developing the rotary engine and started exporting their vehicles overseas. Mazda was then able to enter the US markets. Thus it might be correct that the two car makers’ alliance was formulated during the times when Mazda started operating in the US and the company was having a hard time in its financed and in need of an investor. But, the alliance did not incorporate the two companies into one and due to this, it is correct to consider the two as separate entities helping each other.
2. The type and number of vehicles that they produce
Another key difference that separates Mazda from Ford is the type and number of vehicles that they manufactured. Mazda’s line-up is made up of cars, sports cars, and crossovers/SUVs. Ford Motor Company on the other hand is into 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 car manufacturers usually shared some key components, each of these vehicles were sold with different names and prices. Ford is producing the majority of its vehicles in the company’s North American assembly plants, while Mazda on the other hand are assembling their vehicles in Japan and shipping to other regions where the company operates.
