Behind the Badge: The Fascinating History of the Mazda Logo
Have you ever stopped and looked at the Mazda logo?
Photo: Justine Ellifrits
Unless you’re a graphic designer, you probably didn’t realize a lot of thought goes into auto brands’ logos. For instance, Mazda’s current badge might remind you of those simplified cartoon sketches of birds in flight.
Look! It’s a flock of Mazdas!
While there’s actually some truth in that observation, the influences and history of the Mazda logo are more subtle–and fascinating–than you’d expect.
Where Did Mazda Get Its Name?
Most historians say the Mazda name is derived from a combination of two names: “Ahura-Mazda,” the Avestan name of a Zoroastrian deity known for its wisdom, and Jujiro Matsuda, the Westernized pronunciation of the Mazda Corporation founder’s name. Matsuda was known to be a fervently spiritual man and honored the company with the name it has kept for almost 100 years.
This badge was the previous version used by the automaker before the current “M” design
What’s the History of the Mazda Logo?
The Mazda logo we see today is actually a highly-styled “M” with its arms raised like wings, symbolizing the brand’s “flight toward the future.” This emphasizes the wide “V” angle in the middle of the “M,” which represents the automaker’s self-proclaimed creativity, vitality, flexibility, and passion. It’s circled by the future, the doorway to the 21st century. Overall, it intends to appear sharp, evocative, and hopeful.
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The first appearance of the Mazda logo was in 1934, when production began on three wheel trucks. It focused on the name given to the brand and what the word represented. Up until then, the company only produced tools and heavy machinery. |
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The revised logo in 1936 was patterned off the emblem of Hiroshima city, emphasizing the automaker’s dedication to its home. The “M” of the Mazda name was outfitted with the first instance of soaring wings–almost like an aviation symbol. |
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The next logo’s use spanned from 1959 to 1975, focusing primarily on the M and removing the wings (also dropping the resemblance to Hiroshima). This logo’s debut coincided with release of Mazda cars. |
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For the next couple decades, Mazda didn’t have an official logo and just used a stylized version of its name on documents and products. |
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The desire for a logo eventually returned in 1991 with a diamond-like shape, bringing back the imagery of wings, the sun, and a circle of light. |
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The Mazda logo was changed the next year, in 1992, to differentiate itself from the similar Renault logo, by smoothing out the diamond’s edges. |
In 1997, we got the logo we have today, incorporating many of the qualities seen throughout the symbol’s history.
Consider how much you learned about this logo in the past two minutes!
Photo: DigitalRalph
Enjoy learning about the Mazda logo? Check out the rest of The News Wheel’s “Behind the Badge” series to learn about other auto brands.
News Source: Dinesh
Aaron is unashamed to be a native Clevelander and the proud driver of a Hyundai Veloster Turbo (which recently replaced his 1995 Saturn SC-2). He gleefully utilizes his background in theater, literature, and communication to dramatically recite his own articles to nearby youth. Mr. Widmar happily resides in Dayton, Ohio with his magnificent wife, Vicki, but is often on the road with her exploring new destinations. Aaron has high aspirations for his writing career but often gets distracted pondering the profound nature of the human condition and forgets what he was writing… See more articles by Aaron.