CEO of Mazda on CNBC's morning Squawk Box program

[rochrunner]

I'm not sure how many of you will be able to view this, but I found it interesting this morning:
https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/04/...of-choice-is-important.html?qsearchterm=mazda

 

[Ninja_Matt]

Very cool interview, I do recall (very briefly) meeting Moro san probably around 2018 when they were releasing the new Mazda3, he was visiting dealers in the Northeast and stopped my dealerships with several other Mazda Japan employees, just the kindest, most respectful people I've ever met.

We have been concerned about the inventory pipeline with port Baltimore, glad to hear he seems to be not very concerned and are re-routing their shipments. I'm curious exactly which ports they are going to, I'm sure I will be finding out from our dealers soon enough.

Last thought, I always love Mazda as a brand, they truly practice what they preach and really love their customers. I do believe he is genuine in the customer-first approach, Mazda has always been slow to roll out new tech especially related to drivetrains (hello long lived 6 speed autos!) but I always interpreted it as Mazda being keen on perfecting anything new before releasing it and focusing more on exactly what their customers enjoy, over chasing regulatory requirements and eeking out numbers as top priority. The competitors have a CVT? The competitors just increased their MPG by 1? The competitors just pushed out another 10 horsepower rating? Cool, our customers love our 6 speed autos and engines tuned for engagement the way our customers are used to and enjoy.

Of course some of this has been lost to their move upmarket, but I respect their design changes and quite frankly they are becoming more profitable from it - more profit means better products means we get more cool cars from a Manufacturer that knows how to make really cool cars with passion. Also, what other manufacturer completely switched to a rear-bias straight six engine platform in modern times from a FWD I4 platform? Go Mazda!

 

[wlong01]

I thought Mazda's came in through California then were shipped by rail across country.
That's how Honda did it with their Japanese made vehicles.

 

[Chocolate]

Thanks for link. Becky's questions are weak. Too much time wasted by the interviewer on Baltimore port, with predictable answers (there are 10 other major deep water ports on the East Coast, it's not as if cars suddenly can't get into the United States). Should have had someone with some actual car knowledge asking questions. She wasted time with the President.

 

[Chocolate]

Could have asked hard questions or interesting questions, but asked neither.

 

[rochrunner]

I thought Mazda's came in through California then were shipped by rail across country.
That's how Honda did it with their Japanese made vehicles.

They used to, or at least that's where our 2015 3 came in. That was quite a story, as the car that I'd been waiting for showed up as arrived at the port and in transit, then suddenly disappeared from the dealer's status list. When he looked into it, turns out it had been damaged in a trail derailment! I ended up taking one from his inventory in a different color but in the end Soul Red was the better choice anyway!

Thanks for link. Becky's questions are weak. Too much time wasted by the interviewer on Baltimore port, with predictable answers (there are 10 other major deep water ports on the East Coast, it's not as if cars suddenly can't get into the United States). Should have had someone with some actual car knowledge asking questions. She wasted time with the President.

Other ports, yes, but there's quite a bit of prepping done on cars after they're unloaded, and getting that process going is probably the bigger deal. For instance, I believe that's where a lot of the optional accessories are installed.