I believe they are now are 33% ownership since I last reviewed their financials.

NVMYRX

 

My understanding was that Ford bought more shares to get control of the company to help bail it out from complete bankruptcy and for the technology. Mazda was in deep financial trouble back in the 90's. They spent too much on their parts and development. Ford came in after getting control and made them purchase/manufacture parts that were not as expensive. Eventually they turned the company around with some great products and cost cutting. Don't get me wrong they had great products before!

The worst thing they did was get rid of the Japan made B series truck in 1994 and replace it with the Ford Ranger. I had an 87 B2000 that kept on going for over 300K kms. Solid design and cheaper than the competition at the time.

It still bugs me to this day that Ford owns controlling shares.

 

Mazda has good small-car experience, but so do a lot of other Asian manufacturers. Mazda also has innovative engineers and the ability to fold steel like Samurai. I don't know the technical details, but Mazda has perfected a 3D stamping process that allows them to do the deep fenders on an RX-8 and the almost 90 degree compound creases in the rear quarters of a Mazda 3 Sport. Ever notice that other companies trying to do deep creases like that can only do one per sheet, then have to use a separate sheet for the rest of the panel?