Mazda Logo PNG
Striving for new horizons is the main concept that the emblem of this car company conveys. Therefore, the Mazda logo uses deep meaning but is laconic in appearance. Its style precisely corresponds to the characteristics of the firm’s machinery – high-quality, reliable, and forward-looking.
Mazda: Brand overview
Japanese automobile brand Mazda is known all over the world; today, it is among the 15 largest auto giants. More than one and a half million new cars are sold every year, and even children recognize the company’s logo, although it has often and dramatically changed.
Meaning and History
The company was founded in 1920 in Futou, a suburb of Hiroshima. Its founder, the son of a simple fisherman, Jujiro Matsuda, bought a factory for the production of building materials but decided to produce not only products for the construction of traditional Japanese houses but also engineering equipment. During this period, the factory produced several motorcycles, one of which in 1930 became the winner of local races. In 1931, the first truck named Mazda appeared on the streets of Hiroshima.
The origin of the word Mazda has a double meaning. This is how Matsuda’s surname was pronounced by Americans, from whom he gained knowledge in the field of automobile construction. It is the name of Ahura Mazda, the deity of wisdom, harmony, and light, who is highly revered in Japan.
What is Mazda?
Mazda Motor Corporation is one of the largest automobile manufacturers named after the Zoroastrian deity Ahura Mazda. This Japanese company came into existence in 1920 and first produced plugs. Eleven years later, it started producing auto rickshaws, and in the 1960s, it started developing the Wankel engine. It then began to have financial difficulties, which led to a partnership with Ford.
1920 – 1931
In its early years, when the plant produced only machinery equipment, the emblem was a stylized image of a cutter for cutting metal and machine parts.
1931 – 1934
Then, in 1931, it was replaced by the well-known triangle with white and blue sectors, visually forming a star with three rays. The name of the company is written in slanted handwritten script in transparent letters consisting only of a frame.
The first logo of a full-fledged automobile factory appeared in 1934.
1934 – 1936
The first emblem placed on the front radiator of the car was only the company name, written in elegant slanted italics in the Japanese writing style – with thickened letters and pointed edges with small serifs – in dark blue.
1936 – 1959
The emblem, created in 1936, underwent significant changes as a basis was taken from the symbol of Hiroshima, similar to the flow of the river of the same name within the city. Designers took three such parallel lines, in the center of which the kinks form the letter “M,” which means the new name “Mazda Motor.” Visually, this logo resembled the aviation sign of the time.
1959 – 1975
The logo again underwent radical changes. 1959 was a landmark year for the company – the first Mazda passenger car was released. The emblem was a white circle in a thin red frame. In the center – handwritten letter “m” in lower case with stretched sides – left up, right down. The bright red letter attracted attention with its soft, soothing lines and unusual presentation. Under the circle, the name MAZDA was placed in capital letters but with a slope. The color of the inscription was blue.
1975 – 1991
In 1975, the owners of the company decided to return to a more simple and spacious logo – only the name of the company but made with the original minimalistic and stylish font. It was custom-designed and had no analogs. This font was named “Mazda” and is still used today. Its peculiarity – low capital letters, writing the first letter “m” in lower case, and the letter “z” – with white diagonal stripes. The color is light blue.
1991 – 1992
It was decided to supplement the company name with a symbolic badge. Initially, it was made in the form of a rhombus inside an oval.
1992 – 1997
In 1992, the strict geometric forms of the symbol softened, and the lines became smooth.
1997 – 2015
During this period, the actual symbol of the brand was created and used today. The diamond-shaped sign was replaced by the English letter V (the symbol of victory), the descending wings of which, together with the oval frame, form M (the symbol of Mazda). This badge looks like it is flying into the future. The color of the badge is metallic gray with white, made in 3D technology, which gives it three-dimensionality. Below it is the Mazda name in blue color.
2015 – 2018
The logo underwent minor changes: the badge remained the same, while the name became larger and grayer in tone, with a highlight at the top.
2018 – today
The changes again only affected the company name at the bottom of the logo: it became the same in color and 3D representation as the icon, which raised the brand name to a higher level.
Experts recognize the modern emblem as flawless in design and one of the best in automotive symbolism.
Font and Colors
The modern version of the logo consists of two main parts. The first is the “V,” the sign of victory, a stylized letter “M,” conveying the name of the auto giant; and the symbol of the Hiroshima River, on which the city of the same name is located. This element is borrowed from the emblem of 1936. The second fragment is an oval, which appeared in 1991. Their combination allowed them to create the most recognizable and successful emblem in the automotive industry.
The design of the emblem emphasizes Mazda’s transportation identity: the logo has a metallic sheen that visually makes it three-dimensional. The 3D effect is enhanced by the shadows at the bottom of the letter “M,” whose legs blend harmoniously with the circumference.
In early logos, the company name is written askew: the letters resemble a handwritten style. In 1975, the word “Mazda” acquired a stricter form – it became thicker and squat. Since 2018, a corporate font based on the classic Optima font has been used.
The color of the emblem has never been bright: it contains dark blue, blue, gray, black, and silver. They emphasize the strictness, restraint, and “metallic” character of the products. The unique combination of light and dark shades of gray creates a three-dimensional effect.
Mazda color codes
| Quick Silver | Hex color: | #9f9f9f |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 159 159 159 | |
| CMYK: | 0 0 0 38 | |
| Pantone: | PMS 422 C |
| Black | Hex color: | #000000 |
|---|---|---|
| RGB: | 0 0 0 | |
| CMYK: | 0 0 0 100 | |
| Pantone: | PMS Process Black C |
FAQ
What does the Mazda logo mean?
The Mazda logo has several meanings and looks like a serrated circle with two connecting lines inside. First, its elements are shaped like the letter M – the first letter of the brand name. Secondly, the central stripes imitate the wings of a bird. They symbolize freedom, speed, and rise to new heights.
Why did Mazda change its logo?
In 2018, the car company changed not the entire logo but only part of it – the word “Mazda” to match the design of the round sign. As a result, the lettering became the same silver color and received similar dark outlines.
