Mazda to cease development and production of commercial vehicles to focus on fuel-efficient cars

24 March 2012

Integrity Exports. Mazda reportedly will cease the in-house development and production of commercial vehicles at the end of the current line-up’s life-cycle. The company will focus its business on highly fuel-efficient passenger cars and its Skyactiv technologies.

The decision comes in the face of falling demand as well as an increase in collision safety standards that would add to the cost of the vehicles. Production will end in the second half of the decade.

Sadly, this means the end of the funkily named Bongo, famous for spawning the even more amusingly-titled Bongo Frendee. The Bongo has been with us since 1966, selling over 3 million units. although a shrinking market and tough competition has seen sales drop to just 20,000 per year.

The irony is that Mazda started in 1931 with a 3-wheeled truck called the Mazda Go, so parting ways with the commercial vehicle business is a painful departure from its historical roots.

—Stephen Munday, Integrity Exports