seb

I just saw this thing on tv about "20th century Ford" whatever, and the Ford guy said they owned Mazda 31%. And they own Jaguar and Aston Martin 100%, but that's not important.

Anybody else can confirm this?

Davard

They also own Land Rover and Volvo (cars). Kind of explains why the MPV, Tribute, and 6 all use variations of the Duratec V-6 (also used in Jaguar and Aston Martin, as a V-12).

But back to the original question: Yes, Ford has owned a part of Mazda since the 70's, increasing it's stake in the 90's (although I thought it was 34%).

seb

yea, I thought it was more...I was a bit shocked that it was only 31...and yea, I didnt mantion Land Rover and the other one(s)

mantis

It is around 34% and under Japanese law, that is enough for a single shareholder to have controlling interest.

ProtegeMaster

This is common knowledge. Ford owns enough of Mazda to maintain a controlling interest. Fortunately, however, Ford hasn't seen fit to completely dominate Mazda's operations; in the sense that they start shoving all Ford parts into "Mazda's" vehicles. They've done that for some of Mazda's cars: Tribute and B-Series trucks. But other than that Mazda has either mostly or completely been the one who designed and built their other models.

And one other thing to notice: The Protege, Protege5, Miata, 626, and MPV (which is based on the 626) were all designed and built by Mazda. They're extremely reliable vehicles. The Tribute and B-Series trucks were designed and built by Ford. They're well documented as horrible in reliability. Coincidence? I think not.

More proof of Ford's pathetic, dishonorable practices is with Volvo, a formerly Swedish auto maker that used to make reliable cars. The Volvo S80, for instance, makes use of extensive Ford parts, including the engine. The S80 is among the least reliable cars you can buy.

The Japanese maintain a culture that values honor and respect. Mazda should be ashamed about their association with Ford, as 'the Blue Oval' doesn't built vehicles, as a whole, that deliver a fair value to their customers. Indeed, when you buy a Ford you're getting bent over and violated in the most despicable of ways.

The true test of Mazda's future ways is going to be seen in how the Mazda6 holds up in reliability. I'm hopeful, but it's hard to not get a little dubious when Ford even touches an auto maker. Aside from the financial help Ford can render, their having ANY influence on Mazda is definitively a BAD thing.

And oh yeah, many of you may know that the upscape trim Mazda6 makes use of the Ford Duratec V-6 engine. How much anyone wanna bet this engine will prove LESS reliable than the new 4 banger that Mazda is putting in the lower trim 6? The 4 was developed exclusively by Mazda. I'll be laughing when the data comes out further demonstrating Ford's incompetence.

macdaddyslomo

you must be smoking crack...Ford brought Mazda back from the brink of disaster..Ford does make reliable,popular vehicles..I am a big Mazda enthusiast and think that their products are better than Fords...but for Mazda to be ashamed of their relationship with Ford is rediculous...as far as the MPV goes...if it is documented as an unreliable vehicle it is based on the Mazda V6...they JUST started putting the duratec V6 in them because everyone screamed it lacked for power...it used to be powered by a Mazda K series 2.5L V6...also the relationship greatly benefits Ford as Mazda will be building almost all of fords 4 cyl engines now,and most of the trannies(if not all) to go with them....I could go on forever but I dont think it is necessary...but I will leave you with this...If it werent for Ford basically putting Mazda on their backs and carrying them(fiancially) thru the 90's...then Mazda would be bankrupt right now...so thank you lucky stars for Ford or you wouldnt even have your protege

Mustang

You boys need some insight........too many of you are too naive of facts and simply bash Ford for lack of understanding.

I work for Ford Company and let me give you the facts Ford owns 100% Lincoln, Mercury, Volvo Cars, Aston Martin, Jaguar, Land Rover, and a 33.4% (controlling stake of Mazda). Sure Ford has had issues with people bitching about the quality and reliablity of their vehicles. My personal take on it is simply that Ford is just so big that it's an easy target to attack. I own two Ford vehicles (both with NO serious problems - I still drive my 1990 Topaz with 230,000 kms and going!), and I recently bought a Protege5 so you cannot say I am biased in my opinions.

As for Ford itself, they have a ton of cash which they use to aid its other brands. Mazda would not be where it is today without the help of Ford. Consider this... does Mazda have a decent 6 cylinder engine? NO! The V6 Tribute uses a Ford engine, the MPV uses the 200 HP Windstar engine, and the upcoming Mazda6 will use a modified version of Ford's Duratec engine. Also, look at the Mazda B-Series truck which is essentially a Ford Ranger. Why is it the best selling import truck?... quite simple.. a Ford engine.

Also, several years ago, Jaguar Cars was at the point of going belly up. In comes Ford to pump in some cash and improve quality while maintaining Jaguar's prestige brand image.

Now... let me run some numbers by some of you less informed individuals out there who love your rice. These numbers speak the truth. These numbers tell you the real story. These numbers tell you that you should be PROUD to have a big daddy like Ford Motor Company looking out for Mazda.

#1 selling car on the planet - Ford Focus
#1 selling vehicle in the U.S. - Ford F-Series
#1 selling mid size SUV in U.S. - Ford Explorer
#1 selling compact pickup truck - Ford Ranger
#1 selling full size van - Ford Econoline

These are just a few numbers..... The sales tell the story. People buy Ford because they offer quality, reliably and value. Sure some models might be boring and dull (Taurus), but don't question their reliablity and safety.

So I'm bigging up Ford like crazy... and you might ask.... why did you buy a P5?... well I would have go the MUSTANG GT Convertible, but I couldn't afford the insurance. I would have got the SVT Focus, but it wasn't available when I got the P5. Bottom line is that Ford knows what it's doing and it pisses me off when I see ignorance speaking through its ***.

GO FORD!

pollax

Which car in Ford's line up uses the 2.9 liter inline 6 that is in the S80??


And by the way, carpoint.com rates the S80 5 out of 5 for reliability.

Identity_X

one has got to remember that the planet is a little bigger than just North America

cjb200

No, sorry. When the current generation MPV first came out, it used the 2.5L Duratec V6 from the now defunct Contour and Cougar. It never had the K series engine

It currently uses the same 3.0 Duratec V6 that is found in the Tribute. IT doesn't, as someone else said, use the engine found in the Windstar.

cjb200

The base B-series and Ranger now use a Mazda engineered engine, my friend.

ProtegeMaster

Ford synonymous with quality!? Ha ha ha! Ha ha! That's a good one.

Explain this, Genius!

Association with Ford IS shameful.

Lest you forget the explosive Ford Pinto. Great car, eh? Lest you forget the Ford Crown Victoria, noted by Police departments as also explosive and unsafe. Lest you forget the Ford Bronco and Bronco II, which has serious roll over problems. Lest you forget the Ford Explorer, which also poses a serious roll over risk. An obvious fix for such a problem, as even Ford engineers suggested, was to widen the wheel base of these defective vehicles. Ford refused to do so, and only with the latest design of the Explorer have they made this vehicle safer. Lest you forget that Ford was responsible for building the least responsible vehicle ever made, the Ford Excursion.

There isn't a single vehicle in Ford's ENTIRE lineup that presents excellent reliability. Not one. And your beloved best selling Ford Focus? It might well be the WORST car you can currently buy in terms of it's reliability. Refer to the link noted above to refresh your memory on this note.

Ford's SOLE worth in its association with Mazda, as I *already* said, was its infusion of cash. It might help in terms of diversifying model line ups by cosmetically rebadging a Ford car and calling it as a Mazda, but that holds NO worth in terms of reliability.

And oh yeah, being a best selling car DOES NOT always demonstrate that it's a good vehicle. The Focus sells well because its reasonably priced, it's quiet, rides well, and because, as a whole, people are idiots when it comes to understanding the value of a reliable car by virtue of their utter lack of pre-sale research into the issue. Lest we forget that Ford has MASSIVE marketing money to fool the ignorant masses into thinking that Ford is worth their hard earned money. Do you think the Focus is worth people's hard earned money? Tell that to the 572,795+ people Ford has screwed with this weak car. Or perhaps you should tell that to several thousand of the 70,000 SUV roll over accidents that will happen in the next year. Tens of thousands of those will be in good 'ol Ford vehicles.

Only a Ford insider with something to gain from company loyalty could even think Ford is worthy of our trust and praise.

Talk to someone from Toyota. THAT'S an honorable company.

Davard

Nope. Still the same old Pinto motor, just refined and taken out to 2.5L.

And as someone pointed out, the Windstar uses a 90 degree V-6, while the MPV uses the 60 degree V-6 out of first the Contour, and now the Taurus.

The Duratec V-6 is a pretty widely used engine. In various states, it is used in the Contour, Taurus, Lincoln LS, Jaguar S-type and X-type, Mazda MPV, Tribute, and 6. Of course, the Lincoln, Jag, and 6 use different heads and intake.

Invincibleredp5

Ford owns 54.8% of me
40 hours a week 23.8%
plus 31% of my car

and ya, i work with the company...and if any1 is watching there GREAT...

remember what happened with that one guy on this board (sorry for forgetting who u were) and honda i believe it was?

-Jason

macdaddyslomo

me thinks someone has a vendetta...did the poor baby buy an old ford pinto and it broke down...awwww ...EVERY car company has had quality issues with some of its vehicles...Toyota recently recalled 397,000 vehicles because of faulty brake lines that may cause brake failure....Honda recently recalled 968,000 Accords due to faulty wiring...Nissan still has an on going campaign on a fuel injector recall on every V6 vehicle from 1984 thru 1989...it caused the engine to catch fire because of a fuel leak....Gm recently recalled 280,000 Cadillacs(their pinnacle of quality)...it happens all over the industry...Ford builds the best Full Size Truck on the market and has for over 25 years....I've heard of no probs on a Lincolns,and the Escort since the stopped using the Mazda engine has been great..the Mustang has been a great car for years in terms of reliability..but according to the previous equation no manufacturer equates quality...put that in your pipe and smoke it