Ford & Mazda split, but will still co-develop technology

By Matt Brogan | December 16th, 2009

Ford has sold the majority of its share in Mazda but the two manufacturers say they plan to continue to work together to develop advanced technologies, even if they don’t share platforms.

Ford owned a controlling share in Mazda and both companies shared the development of most of their mass produced vehicle platforms. Based on the same Mazda developed platform and similarly priced is the Mazda 2 and the Ford Fiesta, the Mazda 6 and Ford Mondeo also share platforms.

“The strategic relationship continues. The business relationships continue. And they continue on the basis that they’ve always continued,” Ford Chief Financial Officer Lewis Booth said.

“Where it works to the benefit of both companies, we do things together, and where it doesn’t, we don’t.”

Mazda admits that it is too small to succeed as a mass market competitor to Ford or Toyota, it has not been made clear if Mazda and Ford will develop platforms together but they will continue to share powertrain technologies.

“Our strategic alliance will remain intact. Ford will remain an important partner for Mazda,” said Mazda board member, Mr Masaharu Yamaki.

Tim

A shame, this partnership was very good. Both got very good cars out of this relationship.
o

one of the best car realtionships both gained lots. Its interesting how although mazda is a big brand in oz how little it is world wide

Steve-Poyza

Yeah, Mazda really have been top notch since about 2005 and Australia have taken it very well. Very good cars indeed…

Safety First

Unfortunately, globally they are of less significance than Renault is in Australia…
The Future without Ford Motor Company’s financial input will be very tough for Mazda.

Safety First

Slow news day hey gents??? This is old news and happened ages ago
BTW for what it’s worth the B3 Platform is actually a Ford Platform with input from a small team from Mazda…
Just a little historical correction.

http://www.motormo.com/ Rob

That’s for the Mondeo right?

Safety First

Nah Mondeo is EuroCD as in Volvo S60 & S80… B3 is sub compact / light car Mazda Demio/2 and Fiesta

Devil’s Advocate

Not quite Safety First, just a correction on your correction. Also, if you want to get really historical with the Fiesta, the further back you go into the early 00s and 90s, the more Mazda the platform was!

The Fiesta, as you said, is built off the Ford B3 platform however it is still based off a modified Mazda DY platform. You must be confused with the B platform that is in fact a Ford design. They maybe a similar size, but they are two completely different platform.

Oh, don’t go quoting Wikipedia as we all know anyone can put whatever they like as the statement above about the B3 being based off the Mazda DY was only removed a week or so ago to what you are saying now with “small team” from Mazda. What the person who edited the article failed to quote from their ‘new source’ artice was that it was a team of 30 engineers from Mazda (not what you call small for a single platform). From that it is obvious that the person who edited that article only used certain information to push his/her agenda of trying to convince people that Mazda had virtually no input into the design of the platform at all when essentially every other article about the B3 says otherwise. This change was made around the time you made a similar comment on another thread. I am thinking, it wasn’t you that changed it because you can’t accept the fact that such a good car is based off a Mazda platform??? TIC

I have done a fair bit of searching on the net about the Ford B3 platform used in the Fiesta and the new ‘edited’ Wiki ariticle and the “new” reference article the person used are the ONLY ones out of the many I found that DIDN’T say the B3 was in fact based on the Mazda DY platform. Make of that what you will…

Safety First

You Floor pan information seems to having a bad day… (lol) The last True Mazda Global Vehicles are the RX8 and the BT/50 Ranger….(and that is about to become a Ford product with input from Mazda in same way the B3 platform is..
Oh and my reference is actually Mazda and Ford internals… Agree the Wiki crap is to easily fiddled, but then that also goes both ways.
For the record, I happen to like Mazda product. The first 4cyl I owned was a Kermit green Capella… Loved 929 / RX4 Coupes etc. Spent a good five years selling their product during their hard times when they went from sexy (626, 929 Astina V6) back to drab, 91 > 97…. still love their product but understand the process behind their business a tad better than some…

guss

Mazda is better off without ford.
Ford engines and transmissions suck, Mazda wont have to use them anymore.

o

are you being serious fords new double clutch transmissions are supposedly on par with VW and there engines are just as good.
Joker

Guss, what are you smoking??

ZF Gearbox? Acclaimed Inline 6? Twin Turbo 4 and 6? 6 Speed DSG Gearbox with sealed components crap??

Yea…no.

The Real Car Fanatic

Maybe Guss had a Ford gearbox dropped on his head when he was younger?

Tomas79

I belive that with a Ford!!

Also let’s not forget ZF gearbox isn’t fords!!

Joker

True
At least they had the sense to use it.
David T

Tomas79 go and find out the difference between COTS and special order.
Ford can take plenty of credit for this adaption of the ZF.

David T

How did you miss “they will continue to share powertrain technologies”?

Goose.

Myke

I think Mazda and Ford will continue to be powertrain AND platform buddies, I remember them saying it is cheaper on both companies.
FYI the Mazda6 and Ford Mondeo are on different platforms, the 6 shares its platform with the American Ford Fusion. Ford plan to merge they midsize platforms, so who knows they may share a platform in the future.

Devil’s Advocate

That maybe true for the US version Mazda 6 as it is a different car (larger) than the the ‘rest of the world’ version. The one we get in Australia is still based off the Mondeo platform, however it is the previous model Mondeo platform that has had a couple of modifictaions to suit Mazda’s criteria for their 2nd generation 6. In other words it is the same platform as the previous 6 that has been modified for a longer wheelbase and some geometry/subframe changes etc.

Myke

The American Mazda6 is just a long-wheelbase version of the 6 sold here, they are not that different. The Mazda6 is on Ford’s CD3 platform also shared with the Ford Fusion and Mazda CX-9, the Mondeo is on Ford’s European EUCD platform shared with the Volvo S80, XC60, V70, S60 etc.

Devil’s Advocate

The US Mazda 6 is not just longer, it is wider in body and track as well. Sure, it may incorporate similar design traits etc, but they have less in common than what you are making out.

Your source must be different to mine. One article I read says that they barely share 10% of components and no panels or glass etc at all!! Ah well, you get that! LOL

I will ask a question then regarding what you would call a similar situation. Would you say that the VT-VZ Commodore has it’s own unique platform? (this is for ***ts and giggles)

http://OzMPSclub.com OzMPSclub

So who was the buyer of the last of the Mazda shares….move on and lets see how Mazda can make even better cars……

Andrew M

Ford still owns mazda shares.
They havent sold them all

Deco

Will Ford ever get the chance to utilise the SKY engines?

Matt

May not need to, EcoBoost engines are on the way

AAA

When Ford let Volvo go, it’s understood. But letting Mazda go is a bad move.

The Real Car Fanatic

Really? Maybe they needed the cash injection, ever think of that?

Andrew M

This article/news is 12 months old.

Ford still owns Mazda shares.
Ford sold a lot of their Mazda shares off to business partners in 1% each pieces.

Their is also an agreement in place that means the business partners that bought a 1% share can not sell them to a competing manufacturer.

Nothing will change behind the scenes, its actually quite a clever way to raise cash.
I mean it would be sort of like Cadbury holding shares in Schweppes…..
I know its not the exact same circumstance, but lets say Cadbury owns Schweppes shares.
Why wouldnt Cadbury sell their Schweppes share under agreement to raise cash???
Nothing will change relationship wise and Cadburys and Schweppes will still use each other to the best advantage
http://www.english158.com Richard

have you seen the news today? A Ford Explorer’s cruise control broke and the person’s car couldnt be stopped and it was traveling 100km on a highway!
wonder if Mazda has the same cruise control technology as well