Mazda Motor Corporation
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Founders
Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto · Founded 1920 · Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan
Quick Answer
Mazda Motor was founded by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto in 1920 in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. The company is currently led by Masahiro Moro.
On January 30, 1920, Jujiro Matsuda, a former blacksmith and engineer, established **Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd.** in Hiroshima to produce artificial cork for industrial insulation. In 1927, after a fire destroyed the cork factory, Matsuda pivoted to machinery, producing the **Mazda-Go** three-wheeled motorized rickshaw-truck in 1931 (naming it 'Mazda' after Ahura Mazda, the Persian god of light and wisdom, and Matsuda's own surname). On August 6, 1945, the atomic bomb devastated Hiroshima; miraculously, Hijiyama mountain shielded Mazda's factory in Fuchu, allowing the company to serve as the emergency municipal hospital and command center to rebuild Hiroshima, cementing Mazda's unshakeable identity as the resilient soul of Hiroshima.
Jujiro Matsuda was a Japanese blacksmith, machinist, and industrialist from Hiroshima who founded Toyo Cork Kogyo in 1920.
Jujiro Matsuda is the Founder of Mazda Motor Corporation. Matsuda guided the transition from industrial cork to motorized three-wheelers (Mazda-Go in 1931). Matsuda led the heroic reconstruction of Hiroshima after the 1945 atomic bomb, transforming Mazda into a symbol of Japanese industrial resilience.
Kenichi Yamamoto was a visionary Japanese engineer who led Mazda's '47 Ronin' rotary development team and served as President.
Kenichi Yamamoto is revered as the 'Father of the Rotary Engine' at Mazda, perfecting the Wankel engine for the Cosmo Sport, RX-7, and 1991 Le Mans triumph.
Masahiro Moro
Representative Director, President & CEO
Veteran executive who previously served as CEO of Mazda North American Operations, successfully executing the Large Product Group rollout and driving record profits.
Jeffrey Guyton
Chief Financial Officer & Representative Director
Former Mazda Motor Europe CEO who directs global financial strategy, capital allocation, and currency hedging.
Ikuo Maeda
Head of Global Design (Creator of Kodo Design)
Legendary designer whose father designed the original RX-7; sculpted the award-winning 'Kodo: Soul of Motion' design language.
Mazda Motor Corporation was founded in 1920 by Jujiro Matsuda, Kenichi Yamamoto in Fuchu, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan.
The founders established Mazda Motor Corporation with the objective of solving core inefficiencies in Automotive Manufacturing, Crossover SUVs, Rotary Engine Engineering, Skyactiv Powertrains & Premium Vehicle Design, laying the foundation for its current global scale.
Even as Mazda Motor Corporation scales to $33.5B, the organization maintains the founders' commitment to innovation and customer-centric execution.