| During the 1990s, Ford Motor Company went on | | | | very strong truck division, needed a vehicle that |
| an international buying spree snapping up small | | | | was smaller and less costly than the pricey |
| automakers around the globe. Volvo, Jaguar, Land | | | | midsize Explorer to complement the fleet. Enter |
| Rover, and Aston Martin all were brought within | | | | Mazda. Mazda designed and released the car-like |
| the Ford fold, and Mazda, by default has become | | | | Tribute for their own division, and a Ford version |
| part of Ford's line up even though the Japanese | | | | of the SUV, the Escape, was built by Ford in the |
| automaker is "only" partly owned by Ford. Ford | | | | US. Together, the vehicles have competed |
| parts and Mazda parts are sometimes | | | | successfully against Toyota's RAV4 and Honda |
| interchangeable as well as are some of their | | | | CR-V. |
| vehicles. Let's examine closely the relationship | | | | For 2006, the Ford/Mazda relationship really heats |
| between the two automakers and how their | | | | up with the release of three cars based on the |
| synergies benefit both companies. | | | | highly touted Mazda 6 platform: the Ford Fusion, |
| The relationship between Ford and Mazda has | | | | Mercury Milan, and the "near luxury" Lincoln |
| been growing over the years, but is well known | | | | Zephyr. All three sedans share similar components |
| by auto historians as having started in the early | | | | and borrow heavily from Ford's relationship with |
| 1970s when the Mazda pick up truck was | | | | Mazda. |
| imported to the North American market by Ford | | | | If you purchase a Ford or Mazda product that has |
| and called the Courier. From 1972 to 1983, the | | | | in fact been rebadged will the Ford parts and the |
| Courier was part of the Ford line up, but in reality | | | | Mazda parts be the same? Good question! Major |
| it was a Mazda. | | | | sections like the frame are likely to be the same, |
| From 1984 on, Ford decided to build its own small | | | | but many key components including suspension |
| pickup truck and the Ranger was born. Mazda, | | | | parts, brakes, and electrical parts, may be |
| meanwhile, redesigned their truck and sold it | | | | different. A better thing to do when purchasing |
| separately until 2002. When time came for a new | | | | replacement Ford or Mazda parts is to check your |
| Mazda truck, Mazda tapped Ford and the current | | | | vehicle's owners manual or visit a reputable online |
| Ranger was rebadged as the Mazda "B" series. | | | | store, such as Car Parts Stuff, for the right parts |
| From 1991 to 2001 Ford's Explorer was rebadged | | | | for your make and model. You may think you are |
| and sold as the Mazda Navajo. Only a two door | | | | getting the same parts, but you can only be |
| version was available and the line was eventually | | | | certain if you verify that information. |
| dropped as Mazda concentrated on their own | | | | Ford and Mazda have a relationship that appears |
| SUV, namely the Tribute. | | | | to be mutually beneficial to the two automakers. |
| Are you confused yet? Don't be as the two | | | | Judging by the new products being offered, the |
| automakers have exchanged parts and vehicles | | | | relationship is certain to grow stronger in the |
| for decades. | | | | coming years. |
| In the early part of this decade, Ford, which has a | | | | |