Does Ford still own part of Mazda?
No, Ford no longer owns a stake in Mazda. The two automakers had a long-standing partnership, but Ford divested its remaining shares in Mazda in 2015.
The Ford-Mazda Partnership
Ford and Mazda have had a close relationship for decades. In 1979, Ford acquired a 25% stake in Mazda, and the two companies collaborated on several vehicle platforms and technologies over the years. At its peak, Ford owned as much as 33.4% of Mazda.
The partnership allowed Ford to gain access to Mazda's expertise in areas like rotary engines and small car development, while Mazda benefited from Ford's resources and global distribution network. The two automakers jointly developed models like the Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series pickup trucks, as well as the Ford Probe and Mazda MX-6 sports cars.
Ford's Divestment from Mazda
As the global financial crisis hit in the late 2000s, Ford began to scale back its international operations and focus more on its core North American business. In 2008, Ford reduced its stake in Mazda from 33.4% to 13.4%.
Then, in 2015, Ford sold off its remaining 15% stake in Mazda, completely divesting from the Japanese automaker. This marked the end of the long-standing partnership between the two companies.p>
Since then, Mazda has operated as an independent company, though the two automakers still collaborate on some projects and share certain technologies. However, the level of integration and cross-ownership that characterized the Ford-Mazda relationship in the past no longer exists.
