Autozam
Autozam (オートザム, Ōtozamu) was a marque of Japanese automaker Mazda, specializing in small cars and Kei cars, many of which were rebadged Suzuki models.
Division | |
Industry | Automotive |
Fate | Defunct |
Founded | 1989 |
Defunct | 1998 |
Headquarters | , |
Area served | Japan |
Products | Automobiles |
Parent | Mazda |
Website | www |
In the late 1980s, Mazda diversified in the Japanese market with the launch of three new marques. The company created Autozam, Eunos, and ɛ̃fini, in addition to the Mazda and Ford brands already marketed there. This selective marketing experiment was ended in the mid-1990s due to economic conditions, largely attributed to the collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble in 1991. The Autozam dealership channel is still in operation in some Japanese locations, but sell all current Mazda products.
Autozam models
The following vehicles were part of the Autozam brand. Those that were rebadged versions are noted in parentheses.
- 1990–1998 Autozam Carol keicar (rebodied Suzuki Alto)
- 1990–1994 Autozam Revue subcompact car (Mazda 121)
- 1990–1997 Autozam Scrum mini MPV (Suzuki Carry)
- 1991–1998 Autozam AZ-3 coupé (Mazda MX-3)
- 1992–1993 Autozam Clef sedan (Mazda Cronos)
- 1992–1994 Autozam AZ-1 mid-engine sports car (Suzuki Cara)
- 1994–1997 Autozam AZ-Wagon station wagon (Suzuki Wagon R, later sold as a Mazda)
The Mazda AZ-Wagon continued to use the "AZ" name until 2003, while the Mazda AZ-Offroad mini SUV (a rebadged Suzuki Jimny) was introduced in 1998, continuing to carry on Autozam's naming conventions.
- Autozam Carol
- Autozam Revue
- Autozam Scrum
- Autozam AZ-3
- Autozam Clef
- Autozam AZ-1
- AZ-Wagon
- Mazda AZ-Offroad
Lancia imports
Autozam locations also briefly sold Lancia products to Japanese buyers. Lancia sales were disappointing, as Japanese import buyers did not like buying their cars from showrooms sharing space with the cheerful and cute Autozam Carol. The vehicles sold are listed below. Of the Lancia products sold, only the top level Thema didn't comply with Japanese Government exterior and engine displacement regulations to encourage sales, giving Japanese buyers who visited Autozam locations an alternative to the Autozam Clef, which also exceeded width dimensions.
Lancia models
- Lancia Thema
- Lancia Dedra
- Lancia Delta
- Lancia Prisma
- Lancia Y10
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