Mazda MX-5 Miata

The Mazda MX-5, widely known as the Miata, is a legendary lightweight two-passenger roadster that revolutionized the sports car market upon its debut. Originally unveiled at the Chicago Auto Show in 1989, the MX-5 was conceived as a spiritual successor to classic British sports cars of the 1960s but with Japanese reliability. The vehicle shown in the image is a second-generation (NB) model, which was produced between 1998 and 2005, identifiable by its fixed headlights and more aerodynamic body styling compared to the original NA generation

Mazda maintains a high level of control over the MX-5's production, with the vast majority of units historically and currently manufactured at the Hiroshima plant in Japan. This centralized manufacturing approach ensures the specialized 'Jimba Ittai' (horse and rider as one) driving philosophy is maintained across all units exported globally.

Ownership of the brand resides with the Mazda Motor Corporation. While Ford Motor Company formerly held a significant controlling stake in Mazda for several decades, Mazda regained its independence as a standalone manufacturer starting around 2008 and finalized the separation by 2015. Today, Mazda operates as a publicly-traded company based in Hiroshima, Japan, maintaining partnerships with other manufacturers like Toyota for technology sharing, while remaining its own ultimate owner.