Mazda Motor Corporation commonly referred to as simply Mazda is a Japanese multinational automaker based in Fuchū, Aki District, Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. In 2015, Mazda produced 1.5 million vehicles for global sales, the majority of which (nearly 1 million) were produced in the company’s Japanese plants, with the remainder coming from a variety of other plants worldwide. In 2015, Mazda was the fifteenth biggest automaker by production worldwide. Mazda New Zealand first started introducing Kiwis to the wonders of its vehicles back in 1972 and has grown to become the favoured brand of many motorists, while also contributing extensively back to the community. The company has received an array of awards (too many to list here) including winning the prestigious New Zealand Motoring Writers’ Guild Car of the Year on five occasions, for the Mazda MX-5 (twice), Mazda6, Mazda2 and Mazda3. [Reference: www.mazda.co.nz]