Mazda Logo Evolution

Mazda is a Japanese automotive company, manufacturing passenger cars and commercial vehicles. It is one of the largest Japanese car manufacturers, along with other brands, such as Toyota, Honda and Nissan.

From 1974 to 2015, Ford had a partnership with Mazda, as well as a stake.

Toyo Cork Kogyo Co.

1920-1928

Mazda was established as Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. in January 1920, at the time producing compressed cork boards.

The symbols in the logo are highly abstract versions of the company’s initials, TC.

Toyo Kogyo

1927-1931; 1927–1975 (corporate symbol)

In September 1927, Toyo Cork Kogyo Co. was renamed to Toyo Kogyo Co., Ltd., with the company’s symbol mark becoming trademarked in July 1928. This was their main corporate symbol until 1975, being seen on products like auto parts, when they finally adopted the Mazda logo of that year as their new corporate logo.

Mazda

From 1931 to 1975, these logos were only used for Toyo Kogyo’s Mazda brand.

1931–1934

This logo superimposed text over the Mitsubishi logo, as a result of signing an agency agreement with the latter in terms of three-wheel trucks and other models.

1934

1934–1954

1936–1958

1954–1975

1958–1975

1975–present

The current Mazda wordmark was introduced in 1975. This was also the new corporate logo of Toyo Kogyo, who retired the red 1928 circle that year, to unify the Mazda brand, and changed their name to Mazda Motor Corporation in 1984, after their most popular brand, to unify their identity even more.

1991–1992

In 1991, Mazda decided to create the cylon, a new symbol to be used as a badge on cars, This logo was only used for two years, and was quickly replaced in 1992 due to the diamond bearing a resemblance to Renault’s diamond logo.

1992–1997

In 1992, the inner diamond was rounded due to an accidental resemblance to Renault’s logo.

1997–2015

In 1997, Mazda created a new logo to be used as both a corporate logo and a vehicle badge. The symbol features a V-like shape inside, meant to represent both a bird’s wings and an M for Mazda alongside the sides of the circle.

2015–2018

In 2015, the wordmark was made 3D and given a blue outline.

2018–present

A new corporate typeface, resembling the Optima font, was introduced in 2018, but the 1975 wordmark was kept. The wordmark lost its blue outline and was given a metallic look.

2025–present (Europe)

Following the debut of the new Mazda CX-5 in Europe, Mazda changed to a new flattened logo there on July 10, 2025.