Mazda organizational reforms and personnel changes announced for April 1

On January 30, Mazda organizational reforms were announced by Mazda Motor Corporation, outlining a broad restructuring and a series of personnel changes scheduled to take effect from April 1. The initiative is designed to improve operational continuity, accelerate decision-making, and strengthen the company’s ability to move efficiently from vehicle planning through to mass production.

Mazda organizational reforms and new development structure

A central element of the Mazda organizational reforms is the creation of a new Kuruma Development Division. This division is intended to integrate processes across the entire vehicle lifecycle, ensuring smoother coordination between planning, engineering, and manufacturing. By consolidating responsibilities, Mazda aims to reduce complexity and improve development speed.

Key domains under the Kuruma Development Division

The Kuruma Development Division will be organized into seven functional domains, covering core areas critical to next-generation vehicle programs. These include:

• Product Management

• Powertrain Development

• Electrification Development

• Additional vehicle-related development domains supporting end-to-end execution

Alongside this, Mazda will reduce management layers within the new division to enable faster communication and clearer accountability.

Changes to research, development, and electrification units

As part of the Mazda organizational reforms, the company will significantly streamline its research and development structure. The existing R&D organization will be reduced by half, resulting in a new framework consisting of four divisions. This move is intended to sharpen focus, eliminate overlap, and improve efficiency across development activities.
In addition, Mazda’s “e-Mazda” electrification business division, which was originally established in November 2023, will be dissolved under the new structure. Electrification-related functions will instead be absorbed into the broader Kuruma Development framework, aligning electrification more closely with overall vehicle development.

Board restructuring and personnel changes

Mazda will also introduce a two-tier board structure, separating roles between Management Executive Officers and Executive Officers. This governance change is aimed at clarifying responsibilities and strengthening strategic oversight.
The position of Vice President will be reinstated for the first time in approximately four years, following its absence since June 2022. Under the new appointments, Mr. Jeffrey H. Guyton, currently serving as Representative Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and Mr. Takeshi Mukai, Director, Senior Managing Executive Officer and Chief Supply Chain Officer (CSCO), will assume roles as vice presidents.
As part of the personnel changes associated with the Mazda organizational reforms, Mr. Mitsuo Hitomi, Executive Fellow Innovation, will resign. These leadership adjustments are intended to support the revised organizational structure and align management capabilities with Mazda’s long-term development and operational priorities.