Takashi Yamanouchi to step down as chairman after 47 years at Mazda

• Takashi Yamanouchi to step down as chairman after 47 years at Mazda
• Seita Kanai to take over as board chairman after shareholders’ meeting in June

Takashi Yamanouchi will retire as Mazda Motor Corporation’s chairman of the board and representative director, ending a career at the unconventional carmaker that began 47 years ago. The 69-year-old, who also served as Mazda’s president and CEO between 2008 and 2013, will be replaced by Seita Kanai, currently vice chairman and representative director. 

Masamichi Kogai, Mazda’s current president and CEO, praised Yamanouchi’s leadership, particularly during the global economic crisis that erupted in 2008.

“To break with the company’s history of repeated ups and downs as a result of fluctuations in the exchange rate and changes in the market environment, Mr. Yamanouchi took the lead to formulate and implement a structural reform plan, thus restructuring and reinforcing the company’s overseas production, including opening a new plant in Mexico and promoting global alliances,” said Kogai in a statement. 

“He also concentrated resources on bringing out Mazda’s uniqueness through its SKYACTIV Technology and KODO – Soul of Motion design. By leveraging Mazda’s distinctiveness and competitive edge, he vigorously promoted the reform of the company’s entire business, innovations in sales and strengthening of the brand, laying the foundation for Mazda’s revitalisation and sustainable growth.”

The changes will go into effect after the company’s upcoming ordinary general meeting of shareholders on 24 June.

25th Anniversary Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe

• 25^th Anniversary Mazda MX-5 Roadster Coupe celebrates the iconic roadster’s initial launch
• Newly developed SKYACTIV-Chassis revealed for next generation all-new Mazda MX-5
• Total production of world’s best-selling roadster passes the 940,000 landmark

Mazda Motor Corporation will unveil the new Mazda MX-5 Miata (Japanese name: Mazda Roadster) 25th Anniversary Edition sportscar today at the New York International Auto Show. The special edition model was created to celebrate 25 years since the launch of Mazda’s iconic roadster, the Mazda MX-5, at the Chicago Auto Show in the USA. Also today, the automaker will reveal a newly-developed SKYACTIV-Chassis that will form the basis of the next generation all-new Mazda MX-5.

Over more than two decades, the MX-5 has come to symbolise Mazda’s car-making philosophy and the Japanese brand’s tireless pursuit of driving pleasure. Since its launch in 1989, the Mazda MX-5 has consistently offered the kind of fun that only a lightweight sportscar can deliver, and has won a huge variety of fans from different countries, cultures and age groups. More than 940,000 units have been produced so far (to end March 2014) and the model continues to hold the Guinness World Record for the best-selling two-seater sportscar.

The Mazda MX-5 Miata 25th Anniversary Edition is a special edition model that brings together 25 years’ worth of fun shared with fans. Based on the 2.0-litre 160ps Roadster Coupe model with power retractable hard top and either a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, it is available exclusively in Soul Red Metallic.

Meticulous attention to detail has been paid in every area of the vehicle such as the Brilliant Black-painted roof, A-pillars, and door mirror housings; the off-white leather seat upholstery and door trim, hand-finished dashboard decorative panel in Piano Black and the fitting of Bilstein dampers plus 17-inch Dark Gunmetal alloy wheels.

In New York, Mazda will also reveal the newly developed SKYACTIV-Chassis that will be used for the upcoming next-generation, all-new Mazda MX-5. The engine and chassis are exhibited together, and it will be the first time that SKYACTIV technology has been displayed in a front-midship-engine layout and rear-wheel-drive configuration.

While the next Mazda MX-5 will feature the most compact configuration of any generation of the MX-5, the engine will be located closer to the vehicle’s centre and the vehicle’s centre of gravity will be lower than in any previous Mazda MX-5. The upcoming model has been engineered and developed to achieve outstanding body rigidity and crash worthiness, while also reducing the overall weight by more than 100kg.

Mazda’s Chairman of the Board, Takashi Yamanouchi said, “The original concept behind the MX-5 was so simple; to offer the pure joy of a lightweight sportscar that moves precisely as the driver intends. While responding to increasing safety and environmental requirements, over the 25 years since its launch we have had to continually reinvent the MX-5 – far beyond simple evolution – in order to stay true to that original ideal. The history of the MX-5 is one of changing everything in order to stay the same. A history of innovating in order to preserve the ideal.”