Mazda and Seat cars

Jujiro Matsuda founded Mazda in 1931. By 1940, Mazda had produced the RENESIS rotary engine. This engine was proof of the Mazda commitment to the manufacture of new and innovative products. Their rotary engine, however did not make its debut until 1961 and was introduced in the Cosmo Sport. In 1963, Mazda celebrated the production of their one millionth vehicle. The year 1966 brought the manufacture of the Bongo van, which had a 72cc water cooled engine and rear wheel drive. By 1970, Mazda had reached American soil. The first rotary powered vehicle in the states was the R100. Eight years later the revolutionary Mazda RX-7 was introduced and was the picture of an affordable sports car.

The first Mazda manufacturing plant in the United States began work in 1987. The following year, the company redesigns the Miata, which will eventually become the best-selling sports car in the world. Automobile Magazine named the Mazda MX-5 Miata Car of the Year in 1990. Over the next twenty years, the Mazda brand would grow and strive for excellence. The new crossover vehicles released in 2007, the CX-7 and CX-9, would change the industry proving that crossover vehicles did not have to be boring and box-shaped. The Mazda logo and chief would change as well. As time goes on, Mazda is making sure that their brand is part of the revolution.


Originally, SEAT manufactured replicas of Fiat models. For example, the SEAT Panda was based on the Fiat Panda. By 1967, Seat had become the largest auto maker in Spain. That same year, Fiat acquired 36% of the company. At this point, Fiat was considered in control of Seat, even though the company was not the majority owner. In the 1970’s Seat announced that the company would commence local production of the Lancia Beta.

The relationship with Fiat ended in 1982. After Fiat let go of Seat, the company introduce the new Seat Ronda. It was a restyle of the Fiat Ritmo. There was dispute over this. It was said that Fiat was not happy about the restyle because it was too close to their own plans for the restyle of the Ritmo. The year after the withdrawal of Fiat, Volkswagon entered an agreement with Seat and became the majority shareholder of the company. By 1990, Volkswagon acquired one hundred percent of the company. Used Seat models can still be found on the street. Seat offers an alternative to the high end brand Fiat.