Responsible Business

Message from the President

In March 2007, we introduced the "Sustainable Zoom-Zoom" plan, which outlines our long-term vision for technology development. The plan stresses our ongoing devotion to harmonize driving performance with safety and the environment in building vehicles that look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive them again.

To put Sustainable Zoom-Zoom into action, in June 2008 we announced the goal of renewing our current engine and transmission lineup, and our aim to raise the average fuel efficiency of Mazda cars sold worldwide by 30% by 2015. Also, Mazda is pursuing the use of hydrogen, which is widely considered to be a next-generation fuel. We are making steady progress in the development of hydrogen rotary engine vehicles.

We are moving forward with the same challenging sprit that has made Mazda the world leader in rotary engines. We will uphold our group unity as "One Mazda" as we aim to meet our responsibilities to ongoing changes in society and be a company that is trusted and appreciated by all our stakeholders throughout the world.

I greatly appreciate your continuing encouragement and support for us.

Representative Director, President and CEO
Takashi Yamanouchi

Corporate and Social Responsibility is something that Mazda Australia takes very seriously and four key commitments have been set as priorities:

• Preserving the environment
• Customer satisfaction
• Respect for people
• Social contributions

By advancing a range of projects in these four core areas, Mazda is working to contribute to the creation of a sustainable society. For some detail on Mazda’s projects in these areas, read on …

Environmental Protection

Mazda Australia is committed to offering environmentally sound products and technologies. Through our product planning processes, we are committed to the task of introducing clean technologies, including methods to achieve cleaner exhaust emissions and reductions in CO2 emissions, and the development of clean-energy vehicles.
Mazda has also developed a long-term vision for technology development called ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom’. Based on this vision, Mazda is committed to making cars that always excite, provide that Zoom-Zoom feeling and make you want to drive them again and again. In addition, Mazda looks to provide all customers who purchase a Mazda with the joy of driving and excellent environmental and safety performance.
A key component of this vision is to improve the fuel economy of Mazda cars by 30% by 2015. There are a number of ‘Sustainable Zoom-Zoom’ initiatives that Mazda are currently working on which will assist in achieving this ambitious target.

• Mazda is currently developing the Mazda SKY concept, a new range of fuel efficient petrol and diesel engines that utilise direct injection. Fuel economy improvements will be achieved through efforts to achieve perfect combustion and reduce pumping and mechanical losses. In addition to efficiency improvements, Mazda customers can also look forward to increased levels of torque and emissions performance that meets global standards.
• A new automatic transmission is also being developed that will further increase fuel efficiency. Mechanical resistance will be reduced and Mazda drivers will experience a more direct shift feel.
• Weight reduction is also another key method of enhancing driving performance and improving fuel economy. Mazda is working to reduce vehicle weight substantially through a three-pronged approach: pursuing the ideal structure by optimizing the structure of vehicles while improving safety performance, developing new processing techniques incorporating new machining and welding technologies, and adopting replacement materials by reassessing the materials technology as well as the characteristics of the materials themselves.
• Mazda is also steadily developing electric device technologies to make further fuel efficiency gains on top of those achieved through new powertrains and weight reduction. A gradual roll out of these electric devices is planned:
• Step 1 Idling Stop Systems – Idling stop systems have been shown to improve fuel economy by 8% to 10% (according to statistics gathered in Japan). This feature is already available in some overseas markets and will also be used in next-generation engines.
• Step 2 Regenerative Braking – This technology converts kinetic energy into electricity as the vehicle decelerates, which generates electricity that can be used later as needed. The effects of the system differ depending on what the regenerated electricity is used for, but the improvement in fuel economy is expected to range from a few percent to 10% or more.
• Step 3 Hybrid Systems – This type of system uses an electric motor to assist the gasoline engine at times when energy efficiency is poor, such as when there are low rpms or low-load operation. A hybrid system can be combined with an idling stop mechanism, regenerative braking technology and other features to produce a substantial boost in overall efficiency. Through these initiatives, Mazda is providing the broadest possible range of customers with cars that offer value both in terms of joy of driving and superior environmental and safety features. Mazda intends to reduce total CO2 emissions by moving toward hybrid vehicles in stages, beginning with the use of the idling stop system.

For more information on Mazda’s environmental strategy, go to:
http://www.mazda.com/csr/environment/

Customer Satisfaction

Mazda realises that customers are the most important part of our business. Offering the right products to meet their needs is of course the first step in satisfying Mazda customers but Mazda has also put in place a customer support team to ensure that customers have the best possible customer experience.

• 24 hour customer support – customers are able to contact Mazda 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. A dedicated customer relations team then handles all queries following them through to conclusion.
• Technical services – the technical services team exists to support your Mazda dealer and ensure that your experience upon visiting your local Mazda dealer for a technical concern is as smooth as possible. This includes making sure that technical data is up to date and that warranty processes are streamlined.
• Courtesy call team – outbound calls are made to Mazda owners to ensure that they are satisfied with their vehicle and all other aspects of the ownership experience.
• Service development – for Mazda owners, the service department is the area of their Mazda dealer they will most regularly visit. The service development team operates with the goal of continuous improvement in service processes.

And of course, customer satisfaction cannot be claimed unless it is measured. Mazda Australia surveys customers at several points throughout the purchase and ownership experience and uses the results to ensure that only the best levels of customer service are delivered.

Respect for People

It is Mazda Australia’s Human Resources vision that as an organisation we foster the development of a workforce that is proactive and committed to building Mazda’s brand presence in the Australian market.

We continue to strive to build a culture that value integrity, inclusiveness, discipline and innovation in the way we manage relationships and create business solutions, both internally and with our business partners.

In essence, we want the Zoom-Zoom philosophy and ethos to drive our human resources planning and management as well as our corporate strategies.

Social Contributions

Mazda Australia strongly believes that a company has a responsibility to give something back to the communities in which it does business. It aims to do this in a responsible and genuine way via a number corporate sponsorship programs. Staff members at Mazda Australia are also encouraged to participate and support our corporate social responsibility activities so that they have an opportunity to contribute to the community in a meaningful way.

Mazda Foundation – The Mazda Foundation is dedicated to identifying and supporting meaningful programs that make a difference, in particular ‘Community based programs focussed on youth health, welfare and education’. Contributions from Mazda Australia and its staff, Mazda dealers, suppliers and other individuals have enabled many deserving projects to be given support since the inception of the Mazda Foundation in 1990.

Some of the programs and organisations that have recently benefited from the support of the Mazda Foundation are The Reach Foundation, National Trauma Research Institute, Daystar Foundation and the University of Queensland Koala Healthy Lifestyle Program.

For further details on the Mazda Foundation and the many organisations and programs it has supported, go to: www.mazdafoundation.org.au

Royal Children’s Hospital – The ‘Run for the Kids’ event is one of Australia’s largest fun runs with 30,000 having participated in 2010. The purpose of the event is to raise funds for the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal. Mazda Australia offers direct support to the event and Mazda Australia staff are also encouraged to enter ‘Run for the Kids’ and to raise further funds for the Good Friday Appeal.

A number of other key sponsorships including Opera Australia and Art Exhibitions Australia are additional ways in which Mazda acts on its belief to give something back to the community.