The story of Mazda, which was founded Dzhudzhiro Matsuda in 1920, began with the production of construction materials from the cork tree. Matsuda was born in 1875 in the family fisherman in Hiroshima prefecture, in 20 years opened his own forge, has closed due to damages, even after 11 years he has made another attempt and received a patent for a pump to pump air, but soon shut down again. Just so no Matsuda and surrendered in 1920, together with a group of investors decided to open their own businesses, the company bought up destitute Abemaki, which is engaged in manufacturing and materials from the cork tree. Of course, this same company does not produce cars became immediately, it only allowed the owners to establish the initial capital and the basis for further business and already in 1927 she moved to industrial production. In the twentieth year the company released a batch of some motorcycles and proceeded to the production of machine tools.

After the atomic bombing of Hiroshima Toyo Kogyo plant is not severely injured and in 1950 the company began to produce Mazda trucks with a motor tricycles 1157 куб.см Type CT. These trucks were small and their use of fire. Cars company began to produce only in 1960, after the death Matsuda. During this period, the Japanese standard of living has already begun to grow and more people could afford to buy a car. The first model was the 2 - x door R360, it raised 2 - cylinder engine volume of 356 kub.sm. It was inexpensive and convenient option for the average resident.

In addition, in 1960 happened a number of developments have played in further stories Mazda greater role. Company representative visited the German company NSU Dr. Haas, president Matsuda paid return visit to Germany, and was concluded a preliminary agreement on cooperation with NSU in the development and production of rotary engines Vankelya.