1931 - Toyo Kogyo begins manufacturing vehicles instead of machines. It's first car, the Mazda-Go is released. Every car from now on is named "Mazda" after the Iranian prophet Zoroaster who, in the Avestan language, is named Ahura Mazda.

1960 - Mazda R360 introduced

1962 - Mazda introduces the Mazda Carol

1967 - Mazda begins incorporating it's new Wankel rotary engine into its cars, starting with the Cosmo Sport.

1970 - Mazda enters the North American automobile market and creates

1973 - The oil crisis forces Mazda to focus more attention on piston engines and puts more effort int selling a more fuel-efficient line of cars starting with the Familia and Capella series.

1979 - Ford purchases a 7 percent stake in Mazda and begins an on-going partnership.

1984 - Toyo Kogyo formally becomes Mazda as the company name and not just the name for automobiles.

1991 - Mazda helps Ford build the Ford Explorer which turns out to be America's best-selling SUV but does not sell well in Japan.

1997 - Mazda uses the new stylized M logo for their company.

1997 - Ford increases its stake in Mazda and holds a total of 33.9 percent of the controlling shares of the company.

2002 - Ford acquires an additional 5-percent stake in Mazda.

2008 - Ford announces sale of 20% of Mazda shares as a result of the economic crisis, bringing Ford's share down to 13.4%.