The Mazda logo will again undergo a change after over 26 years in its current form. Though not officially announced, it has been learnt that the automaker had submitted a trademark application in Japan which showed a new logo.
The new logo continues with the previous design of v-shaped wings within a ring. The original design was introduced in 1997 and has undergone two changes since then.
Where the previous logos have been 3-dimensional in appearance, the new one is rather ‘flat’. This follows a trend which can be seen in some other automakers’ logos that have changed in recent years. The change gives a 1-dimensional look that is supposedly more modern and also more suited to the digital age.
Mazda has not indicated when it will launch the new logo but now that it is known, the company would probably do so as soon as the legal processes are completed.
Meanwhile, we take a look back at how its logo has evolved since the company began as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Company in 1920 in Hiroshima, Japan. When the company ventured into making automobiles in 1931, it used ‘Mazda’ as a brand name which first appeared in 3-wheel trucks.
It was only in 1984 that the company changed to Mazda Motor Corporation, which made things easier in the global business world. As Nissan had learnt earlier, having the original Japanese company name different from the brand name on products could create confusion, especially if the brand name became more well known outside Japan.
There is a story that when Nissan’s directors went to Europe in the 1970s to expand their overseas operations, they initially ran into difficulties when approaching banks. They introduced themselves as being from Nissan Motor Company and at that time, Nissan was relatively unknown outside Japan. Then when they said that their company made the Datsun cars, there was immediate recognition. In later years, the company would switch from having Datsun as the brand to Nissan, thereby having the same corporate and brand name.
As to why Mazda is again making a change, it’s probably something that has to take place periodically to ‘keep with the times’. A new logo will provide a fresh new image that can be useful as the company has ambitions of moving more into the premium class with a new generation of models.
Meanwhile, let’s take a look at how the Mazda logo has evolved over the 100 years…
which is duplicated three times for ‘Mazda Motor Manufacturer’. The long side extensions represent wings for agility,
speed, and ability to soar to new heights.
