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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Mazda is not owned by Toyota. Mazda Motor Corporation is an independent, publicly traded Japanese automaker headquartered in Fuchu-cho, Hiroshima Prefecture. Toyota Motor Corporation is a strategic partner and minority shareholder with a 5.1% stake, but it is not Mazda’s parent company in the wholly owned or controlling sense.
Mazda vehicles are built in Japan, the United States, Mexico, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. The exact country and plant depend on the model, model year, production run, and sales market, so the most reliable way to identify an individual Mazda’s origin is to check its VIN, certification label, window sticker, or market-specific manufacturer documentation.
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Who owns Mazda?
Mazda is operated by Mazda Motor Corporation, a Japanese public company whose head office is in Fuchu-cho, Hiroshima Prefecture. Mazda’s official company information identifies Masahiro Moro as its Representative Director, President and CEO and lists the company’s main business as manufacturing and selling passenger cars and commercial vehicles.
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Mazda’s shares are publicly held rather than controlled by Toyota. In Mazda’s shareholder information dated March 31, 2026, Toyota Motor Corporation held 31.928 million Mazda shares, or 5.1% of the company on Mazda’s published basis. The largest entries in Mazda’s shareholder table are Japanese trust-bank accounts. Those entries commonly represent institutional or beneficial-owner holdings and should not automatically be read as a single company owning Mazda.
The accurate short version is:
Toyota owns a minority stake in Mazda and is Mazda’s strategic partner; Mazda remains an independent publicly traded automaker.
Calling Mazda a Toyota subsidiary, or saying that Toyota owns Mazda outright, overstates the relationship and is not supported by Mazda’s current official shareholder information.
What is the relationship between Mazda and Toyota?
Mazda and Toyota have a capital and business alliance. Their cooperation covers areas such as electric-vehicle technology, connected-car systems, safety technologies, complementary products, and manufacturing in the United States.
The companies’ 2017 capital-alliance announcement described an arrangement intended to preserve independence and equality between Mazda and Toyota. Under that agreement, Toyota acquired newly issued Mazda shares representing approximately 5.05% after the capital increase, while Mazda acquired Toyota shares equivalent in value to approximately 0.25% of Toyota.
The percentages and share counts reported in later shareholder information are the figures to use when describing the current ownership position. The 2017 agreement explains how the alliance began; it does not turn Mazda into a Toyota-controlled subsidiary.
Does Toyota own Mazda Toyota Manufacturing?
No. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. is a joint manufacturing company created by Mazda and Toyota. It is not evidence that Toyota owns Mazda.
The plant is in Huntsville, Alabama, and Mazda began producing the CX-50 there on January 18, 2022. Mazda describes the site as a plant jointly constructed with Toyota and lists it among its U.S. production facilities. The distinction matters: a Mazda vehicle assembled at a shared plant is still a Mazda product, and the existence of the joint venture does not change Mazda’s separate corporate ownership.
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Where are Mazda cars built?
Mazda’s official major-facilities listing, current as of February 1, 2026, identifies manufacturing or assembly operations in Japan, North America, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia. Mazda’s company outline summarizes its global network as eight production sites and distinguishes assembly-only locations from more integrated production facilities.
| Country or region | Mazda production locations and role | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Japan | Hiroshima, Hofu, and Miyoshi | Japan is Mazda’s core domestic production base; Miyoshi is primarily associated with parts and powertrain production. |
| United States | Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama | Joint Mazda-Toyota plant; Mazda CX-50 production began in 2022. |
| Mexico | Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation in Salamanca, Guanajuato | Vehicle production began in January 2014. |
| China | Changan Mazda Automobile and Changan Mazda Engine in Nanjing, Jiangsu | Vehicle and powertrain production serving China and selected programs. |
| Thailand | AutoAlliance (Thailand) in Rayong and Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing Thailand in Chonburi | Vehicle and powertrain roles are separate; not every Thai-built Mazda comes from both facilities. |
| Vietnam | Thaco Mazda Automobile Manufacturing Company in Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam | Assembly only; Mazda does not disclose production volume in the cited facility listing. |
| Malaysia | Mazda Malaysia in Shah Alam, Selangor | Assembly only; Mazda does not disclose production volume in the cited facility listing. |
Mazda production in Japan
Japan remains central to Mazda’s manufacturing network. The domestic footprint includes:
- Hiroshima Plant: Ujina No. 1 and Ujina No. 2 in the Hiroshima area.
- Hofu Plant: Hofu Plant No. 1 and No. 2 in Hofu, Yamaguchi Prefecture, together with the Nakanoseki district.
- Miyoshi Plant: Miyoshi, Hiroshima Prefecture, primarily associated with parts and powertrain production rather than being presented as a principal complete-vehicle assembly plant in Mazda’s current facility listing.
Mazda’s 2025 Integrated Report identifies Hiroshima, Hofu, and Miyoshi as its Japanese production sites. In calendar year 2025, Mazda reported 716,690 domestically produced vehicles.
For that year, Mazda reported domestic production of 302,120 CX-5 units, 107,998 Mazda3 units, and 94,744 CX-30 units. These are production totals for the stated calendar year, not a promise that every CX-5, Mazda3, or CX-30 sold in every market came from Japan.
Where is the Mazda CX-50 built?
The Mazda CX-50 for the North American market is built at Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama. Production began there on January 18, 2022.
The facility is a joint Mazda-Toyota manufacturing venture. That means the plant’s ownership structure and Mazda’s corporate ownership are separate questions: Toyota participates in the plant venture, while Mazda remains its own publicly traded company.
Where is Mazda’s Mexico plant?
Mazda de Mexico Vehicle Operation, commonly called MMVO, is located in Salamanca, Guanajuato. Operations began in January 2014.
At a 2024 event marking the plant’s tenth anniversary, Mazda reported that MMVO had produced more than one million vehicles cumulatively by 2020 and had produced 202,506 units in 2023. Mazda also said vehicles made at MMVO represented about 70% of its sales volume in Mexico and one-third of its sales volume in North America in 2023.
Those figures provide historical production and market context. They do not establish the current factory allocation for every model year. A Salamanca-built Mazda and a Japan-built Mazda may share a model name while differing in market, equipment, generation, or production date.
Where are Mazda vehicles built in China?
Mazda lists two Chinese facilities in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province:
- Changan Mazda Automobile Co., Ltd.
- Changan Mazda Engine Co., Ltd.
These facilities are part of Mazda’s overseas production network. Mazda has used Chinese plants for vehicles sold in China and for selected global production programs. Mazda’s 2026 CX-5 production announcement also says the CX-5 manufacturing footprint expanded beyond Japan to China, with local assembly occurring in Malaysia and Vietnam.
Where are Mazda vehicles built in Thailand?
Mazda’s Thai operations include AutoAlliance (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Rayong Province and Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in Chonburi Province.
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A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11AutoAlliance is associated with vehicle production, while Mazda Powertrain Manufacturing Thailand is identified as a powertrain facility. Because model and component allocations can change, it would be inaccurate to suggest that every Mazda built or sold in Thailand comes from both sites.
Does Mazda assemble cars in Vietnam and Malaysia?
Yes. Mazda’s current facility listing includes an assembly operation in each country:
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- Vietnam: Thaco Mazda Automobile Manufacturing Company in Nui Thanh District, Quang Nam Province.
- Malaysia: Mazda Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. in Shah Alam, Selangor.
Mazda marks both sites as assembly only and says their production volumes are not disclosed. “Assembled in Vietnam” or “assembled in Malaysia” is therefore more precise than describing either location as equivalent to Mazda’s more fully integrated Japanese vehicle plants.
Are Mazda cars built in Europe or Canada?
Mazda’s current official production-site list does not identify a current complete-vehicle Mazda factory in Europe or Canada. Mazda does have European operations connected with regional activities, research and development, logistics, or distribution, but those should not be described as vehicle manufacturing plants without a specific source and qualification.
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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesBased on Mazda’s February 1, 2026 facility listing, the relevant current vehicle-manufacturing or assembly geographies are Japan, the United States, Mexico, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia.
How can you find where your particular Mazda was built?
A model name alone is not enough. Mazda uses multiple factories for some model lines, and the same model can be sourced differently depending on its generation, model year, destination market, and production date.
- Find the VIN. It is usually shown on the driver-side dashboard or door-area label and on the vehicle paperwork.
- Check the certification label. The label may identify the country of final manufacture or assembly, depending on the market’s labeling rules.
- Review the window sticker or build documentation. New-vehicle stickers and official selling-market documents may identify the vehicle’s country of origin.
- Ask a Mazda dealer or Mazda’s market-specific customer service. Provide the complete VIN and ask for the vehicle’s production or assembly information.
- Use third-party VIN information cautiously. A VIN or vehicle-history report can be useful, but coverage and decoding accuracy vary. Treat it as a supplement to the vehicle label and official documentation rather than as an automatic replacement for them.
The VIN is especially important when a vehicle was assembled in one country from components supplied by another. “Built in” can refer to final assembly, while parts, engines, transmissions, and other systems may come from different locations.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.The CX-5 shows why a single factory answer can be misleading
The CX-5 has been produced at Mazda’s Ujina No. 1 and Ujina No. 2 plants, at Hofu, and at facilities in China. Mazda also identifies local assembly of the CX-5 in Malaysia and Vietnam.
That does not mean every CX-5 has an interchangeable origin or that all plants produce the same specification. It means a responsible answer must state the relevant market and model year. For an individual CX-5, the VIN, certification label, window sticker, or official vehicle documentation is more reliable than a general online list.
How many Mazdas does the company build?
Mazda’s official company outline reports 1,207,069 global production units for the fiscal year ended March 2025. A separate release covering calendar year 2025 reports 1,156,707 units: 716,690 domestic units and 440,017 overseas units.
These totals cover different reporting periods and should not be compared as though they were the same accounting window. Mazda also explains in its 2025 first-quarter financial summary that its global production-volume measure includes domestic and Mexico production plus Mazda-brand vehicles produced at overseas plants in the United States, China, and Thailand. That accounting definition helps explain why production tables may not match a simple count of factories or local assembly disclosures.
What Mazda’s ownership and factory locations mean for buyers
- A Toyota connection does not make a Mazda a Toyota. Mazda has its own corporation, leadership, products, reporting, and production network.
- Assembly location is model- and market-specific. Do not assume every vehicle carrying the same badge was built in the same country.
- A joint plant is not the same as common ownership. Mazda Toyota Manufacturing is shared manufacturing infrastructure, not proof that Toyota controls Mazda.
- Country of assembly is not a complete quality verdict. A vehicle’s specification, inspection, components, maintenance, warranty, and production date matter more than using country alone as a shortcut.
- Check the individual vehicle before buying or ordering parts. Country, market, model year, and VIN-specific configuration can affect documentation and compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mazda owned by Toyota?
No. Mazda Motor Corporation is an independent publicly traded Japanese automaker. Toyota Motor Corporation held 5.1% of Mazda’s shares in Mazda’s shareholder information dated March 31, 2026, and the two companies have a strategic alliance, but Toyota is not Mazda’s wholly owning or controlling parent.
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Does Toyota make Mazda cars?
Toyota and Mazda jointly operate Mazda Toyota Manufacturing in Huntsville, Alabama, where Mazda builds the CX-50 for the North American market. Mazda also operates or participates in other production facilities, so it is more accurate to say that the companies share a manufacturing venture than to say Toyota makes all Mazda vehicles.
Where are Mazda cars made?
Mazda vehicles and Mazda-brand products are built or assembled in Japan, the United States, Mexico, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, depending on the model and market.
Are all Mazda CX-5 models made in Japan?
No. Mazda has produced CX-5 vehicles in Japan and China and has also identified local assembly in Malaysia and Vietnam. The origin of a particular CX-5 depends on its model year, generation, destination market, and VIN.
How do I find the country where my Mazda was built?
Check the vehicle’s VIN, certification label, window sticker, and official market-specific documentation. A Mazda dealer or Mazda customer-service representative may also be able to confirm production information from the complete VIN.
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The Bottom Line
Bottom line: Mazda is an independent Japanese automaker, not a Toyota subsidiary. Toyota owns a minority 5.1% stake and works with Mazda through a strategic alliance and joint manufacturing operations. Mazda cars are currently built or assembled across Japan, North America, China, Thailand, Vietnam, and Malaysia, but the origin of any particular vehicle must be confirmed from its VIN and market-specific documents.
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