After a 40 year relationship, Mazda and Ford will soon cease their development collaboration. This means that moving forward, Ford and Mazda vehicles will no longer be sharing platforms and develop vehicles jointly.
The split is not entirely a surprise as a rift has been developing for years. In November of 2008, amid financial struggles, Ford sold off a 20 percent stake in the Japanese automaker, bringing its total stake to a mere 11 percent.
One area in which the two automakers have recently differed is in engine technologies. Ford has been focusing heavily on its turbocharged EcoBoost engines, while Mazda has been developing its own line of engines.
Ford began working with Mazda in 1969 when they collaborated on developing a new automatic transmission. The project fueled a closer relationship over the years, which culminated in Ford taking a majority stake in Mazda in 1996.
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