Mazda Motor Corp has announced that they will be recalling certain models of the 2002 Mazda B-Series Truck. They stated that on certain trucks equiped with a speed control system, the speed control deactivation switch may, under certain conditions, leak internally and then overheat, smoke, or burn.

As a result, this could lead to a underhood fire. This recall covers Mazda B-Series trucks with the manufacturer dates of 4/4/97 thru 12/10/02. Dealers will install a fused wiring harness. An interim notice will be sent to owners on or about September 24 2007, directing them to have the speed deactivation control switch disconnected temporarily. When the parts are available, a second notification letter to owners will be sent advising them to return to dealers for installation of the repair part. This letter is expected to be mailed during December 2007. Owners may contact Mazda at 1-800-222-5500.

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As it proceeds with plans to slash jobs and shutter factories in North America, Ford Motor is expanding aggressively in Asia, announcing Tuesday a $500 million investment to build a car plant in Thailand just two weeks after opening a $510 million manufacturing center in Nanjing, China.

Both investments were made with Mazda, the profitable Japanese company that Ford controls through a 33.4 percent stake - a partnership that provides the troubled American carmaker with both cash and manufacturing expertise.

“We’re looking for profitable growth,” said John Parker, Ford’s executive vice president for Asia and Africa. “You have to put some foundations in place.”

Ford’s strategy appears to be to save money by radically slashing operations in North America while making money by expanding in the growth markets in Asia and elsewhere outside the United States.

The company announced staggering worldwide losses of $12.7 billion last year, and said it planned to idle or close 16 North American facilities by 2012, including seven vehicle assembly plants.

Ford’s operations outside the United States give the company a lifeline of liquidity, including $551 million of pre-tax profit in South America in 2006, $469 million in Europe and $168 million through its association with Mazda.

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Mazda Motor Corporation (マツダ株式会社 Matsuda Kabushiki-kaisha?) (TYO: 7261 ) is a Japanese automotive manufacturer based in Hiroshima, Japan.
As of 2006, the company is expected to produce 1.25 million vehicles per year, with sales evenly divided among Japan, Europe, and North America, followed by Latin America.
The Ford Motor Company owns a controlling interest of 33.4% of Mazda.

Mazda began as the Toyo Cork Kogyo Co., Ltd, founded in Japan in 1920. Toyo Kogyo moved from manufacturing machine tools to vehicles, with the introduction of the Mazda-Go in 1931, although they produced weapons for the Japanese military throughout the Second World War. The company formally adopted the Mazda name in 1984, though every automobile sold from the beginning bore that name. The first four-wheel car, the Mazda R360 was introduced in 1960, followed by the Mazda Carol in 1962.
The Ford Motor Company had owned 15% of Mazda, and its stake was increased to a 33.39% controlling interest on 31 March 1999 after Mazda fell into financial crisis. Ford executive Mark Fields is credited with Mazda’s turnaround.[citation needed] Ford has based many of its models on Mazdas, such as the Probe, late model (North American) Escort and Mercury Tracer, and the co-developed Escape/Mazda Tribute.[citation needed]
The 1979 deal paved way for Ford selling badge-engineered Mazdas in Asia and Australia, such as the Laser and Telstar. These models replaced the models from Ford Europe sold throughout the 1970s. Ford also used the Mazda models to establish its own retail presence in Japan - the Autorama dealers sold these cars, plus the occasional Ford US and Ford Europe models.[citation needed] The badge-engineered models came to an end in the early 21st century, as Ford replaced the Laser with its own Focus, and Telstar with its own Mondeo.
The reverse also happened, with Mazda selling badge-engineered Fords in Europe, such as the Mazda 121 based on the Ford Fiesta. Ford and Mazda have moved onto collaboration in a more fundamental sense, by way of platform sharing.

Source: Wikipedia

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by Alex Nunez

Mazda has announced a new “paint & wheels” package for the Roadster (MX-5) in the Japanese market. Dubbed the “Blaze Edition,” it’s available in two colors — Radiant Ebony Mica (shown) or Highland Green Mica, and features lightweight forged BBS wheels plus a host of other model-specific trim elements such as clear markers and turn signals, chrome exterior trim, aluminum cabin accents and a sand beige leather interior.

The package can be had for either the traditional ragtop or the new power retractable hardtop, and prices range from ¥2,840,000 to ¥3,135,000 depending on the trim/roof/tranny combo it’s applied to. Looks good to us, and we’re digging the rims in particular.

If you’re in Japan, you can place your order now.

[Source: Mazda]

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