Tracing Mazda’s visual journey through its logo

Founded in 1920 as Toyo Cork Kogyo, the firm’s earliest mark combined the letters T and C within a shape inspired by a cork crusher, a nod to its beginnings in cork manufacturing. By 1928, following its transition to Toyo Kogyo, a circular emblem featuring the Japanese character for manufacturing was introduced.

The Mazda name first appeared in 1931 on the Mazda‑GO Type‑DA three‑wheeled truck. Its emblem combined the Mazda wordmark with Mitsubishi Corporation’s three‑diamond symbol, acknowledging the distributor of Mazda vehicles at the time. In 1936, the company adopted the “emblem of wings”, a design that merged three letter Ms with Hiroshima City’s flowing‑river emblem, symbolising speed and agility.

As Mazda entered the passenger‑car era, its identity became more modern. A stylised lowercase “m” was adopted in 1959, followed by the blue Mazda wordmark in 1975, which represented enterprise and quality. In 1991, Mazda introduced an emblem inspired by Ahura Mazda, the origin of the company’s name. Its wings, sun and halo expressed ambition and the desire to enrich lives through its vehicles.

The foundation of the emblem recognised today arrived in 1997. Its winged “M” symbolised continuous growth and the freedom to soar. In 2018, the emblem and wordmark were aligned through a shared metallic finish, creating a consistent global identity.

The latest evolution, introduced in 2025, simplified the form for clarity across digital platforms while retaining the wings and “M” that have long represented movement and possibility. Together with the modernised wordmark, the new identity reflects Mazda’s enduring spirit of reinvention.

More than a badge, the Mazda logo carries over a century of courage, creativity and progress. Born in Hiroshima and driven by an unwavering belief in what is possible, it continues to inspire every journey and every road still waiting to be explored.

• Explore how more than a century of innovation has shaped the Mazda identity, from its earliest mark to the bold symbol of today, on our Mazda Logo Evolution Timeline