Ford and Mazda: a strong international relationship

During the 1990s, Ford Motor Company embarked on an international buying spree, taking over small automakers around the world. Volvo, Jaguar, Land Rover and Aston Martin have all been brought into the Ford fold, and Mazda has, by default, become part of the Ford lineup despite the fact that the Japanese automaker is “only” partly owned by Ford. Ford parts and Mazda parts are sometimes interchangeable, as are some of their vehicles. Let’s take a closer look at the relationship between the two automakers and how their synergies benefit both companies.

The relationship between Ford and Mazda has grown over the years, but automotive historians know that it began in the early 1970s, when Ford imported the Mazda pickup into the North American market and called it the Courier. From 1972 to 1983, the Courier was part of the Ford lineup, but it was actually a Mazda.

Starting in 1984, Ford decided to build its own small truck, and the Ranger was born. Meanwhile, Mazda redesigned its truck and sold it separately until 2002. When it came time for a new Mazda truck, Mazda turned to Ford and the current Ranger was rebadged as the Mazda “B” series.

From 1991 to 2001, Ford’s Explorer was rebadged and sold as the Mazda Navajo. Only a two-door version was available and the line was eventually dropped as Mazda concentrated on its own SUV, namely the Tribute.

Are you already confused? Don’t worry, as the two automakers have traded parts and vehicles for decades.

Earlier this decade, Ford, which has a very strong truck division, needed a vehicle that was smaller and less expensive than the expensive midsize Explorer to complement the fleet. Enter Mazda. Mazda designed and released the car-like Tribute for its own division, and Ford built a Ford version of the SUV, the Escape, in the US. Together, the vehicles have successfully competed against the RAV4 and Honda CR-V. from Toyota.

For 2006, the Ford/Mazda relationship really intensifies with the launch of three cars based on the highly touted Mazda 6 platform: the Ford Fusion, the Mercury Milan and the “almost luxurious” Lincoln Zephyr. All three sedans share similar components and borrow heavily from Ford’s relationship with Mazda.

If you buy a Ford or Mazda product that has, in fact, been rebadged, will the Ford parts and Mazda parts be the same? Good question! Major sections, such as the frame, are likely to be the same, but many key components, including suspension parts, brakes, and electrical parts, may be different. The best thing to do when purchasing Ford or Mazda parts is to refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual or visit a reputable online store such as car parts stuff, for the correct parts for your make and model. You may think you are getting the same parts, but you can only be sure if you check that information.

Ford and Mazda have a relationship that appears to be mutually beneficial to the two automakers. Judging by the new products on offer, the relationship is sure to grow stronger in the years to come.