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Mazda taps Americas head as CEO to raise game in its biggest market

TOKYO — Mazda has named the head of its Americas operations as its next president and CEO after its current chief steps down in June, as Japan's fifth-largest automaker seeks to boost profitability in North America, its biggest market. The company said on Friday that Masamichi Kogai will step down and be replaced by current vice president Akira Marumoto, who now oversees operations in the Americas. The changes are effective June 26 after Mazda's annual shareholders' meeting. Mazda, which has global annual sales of around 1.6 million vehicles, has enjoyed a run of rising vehicle sales, expanding in markets particularly in North America, which accounts for nearly 30 percent of total sales. But as one of Japan's smaller automakers and a tiny player globally, it faces growing competition in the United States, where market growth has slowed, and where the company's profitability has sagged due to higher discounting and slowing demand for sedans. The maker of the MX-5 Miata roadster and the reputed Skyactiv gasoline engines also faces higher costs to stay competitive in an industry which is being disrupted by new technologies, including self-driving cars and electric vehicles. Marumoto, a 38-year company veteran with a background in engineering who described himself as having a "strict" work ethic and admitted to being "short-tempered" at times, previously led Mazda's corporate planning and product strategy divisions before heading its Americas operations. He said that growing sales and improving profitability in the North American market would be his biggest priority, along with expanding the company's brand image as an innovative car maker. "Given the rapid changes occurring in the auto industry at the moment it's often asked whether a small company like us will be OK," Marumoto, 60, told reporters at a briefing in Tokyo. "But before we even consider this we need to show our strengths, and what makes us different if we want to grow our brand." Kogai, who became Mazda's president and CEO in 2013, will be following the footsteps of his two immediate predecessors who also held the top job for five years each. He will still be with the automaker and become its chairman, the company said. Earlier this year, Mazda announced that it would invest in a new, $1.6 billion plant in the U.S. state of Alabama as a joint venture with Toyota.

2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata may be getting 181 hp

Even though the current 2018 Mazda MX-5 Miata makes only 155 horsepower, our experience has shown that it's more than enough fun with its modest output. Still, if Mazda were to offer more, we wouldn't turn it down, and it appears that's exactly what will happen for the 2019 Mazda MX-5 Miata. Road & Track dug up a VIN filing from Mazda to NHTSA with information about the Miata for that model year. On one of the pages, it states that the 2019 Miata will have a 2.0-liter four-cylinder making 181 net brake horsepower. That's a pretty big jump from 155 horsepower, nearly matching the larger 2.5-liter engine in the Mazda3 and Mazda6. It's also close in power to the estimates for the Skyactiv-X spark-controlled compression-ignition engine. But, based on what a journalist on Twitter posted, the 2019 Miata will continue to use a version of the existing spark-ignition Skyactiv-G engine. Apparently it will have a new cylinder head, be able to rev higher, and make more horsepower, though he didn't say how much more. This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings. We've reached out to Mazda for comment on this discovery, and, like with most car companies, wouldn't give comment since the topic regards a future product. If it does turn out that Mazda won't up the horsepower for 2019, the good news is that the aftermarket has speed demons covered. Flyin' Miata offers a package that includes camshafts, exhaust and a tune that will bring it up to about 200 hp. There's a supercharger kit from Edelbrock that will provide similar power, but without the need for digging into the engine. Flyin' Miata also offers a turbocharger kit that can bring the Miata up to nearly 250 hp, and if you're really speed-crazed, the company can swap in a Chevy LS V8 with more than 500 hp. Or, you know, you could just be happy with 155. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2016 Mazda MX-5 Miata Club View 32 Photos News Source: Road & Track, Twitter Mazda Convertible Coupe Performance

Suzuki recalls 2 million cars globally

Suzuki is recalling two million vehicles across the globe, including a number of Chevrolet Cruze sedans that it builds for General Motors, because the ignition switches may begin to smoke. None of the Cruzes being recalled were sold in the US, though. This recall is limited to the Japanese, European and Australian markets. In Suzuki's home market, 1,873,000 vehicles are being recalled, including the Cruze and a number kei cars built for Mazda (the Carol and AZ-Wagon), as well as the automaker's own Alto, Wagon R and Swift. Affected vehicles were built between 1998 and 2009. The remaining 133,000 vehicles include Cruzes and other Suzuki products sold in Europe and Australia. There have been no reports of injuries or accidents due to the 67 reported incidents, all of which come from the Japanese market, a Suzuki spokesperson told Automotive News. Related Video: