The Mazda Miata, sold as the MX-5 in most markets outside North America, is made by Mazda Motor Corporation at its Ujina plant in Hiroshima, Japan.
Mazda designs, engineers, and builds every Miata generation in house, without relying on a joint venture partner for this particular model.
The Miata has held the Guinness World Record for the best selling two seat convertible sports car since passing one million units produced.
This guide covers who makes the Miata, who owns Mazda itself, where the car is built, its major generations, and whether a Miata is worth buying today.
Table of Contents
Who Makes the Mazda Miata?
Mazda Motor Corporation manufactures the Miata entirely at its Ujina Plant No. 1 in Hiroshima, the same city where Mazda has been headquartered since its founding.
Unlike some Mazda models built through overseas joint ventures, the Miata has remained a Hiroshima built car across all four generations since 1989.
Mazda engineers the Miata around a lightweight, rear wheel drive platform, a philosophy the company calls Jinba Ittai, meaning unity of horse and rider.
| Model Name | Mazda Miata / MX-5 |
| Manufacturer | Mazda Motor Corporation |
| Assembly Plant | Ujina Plant No. 1, Hiroshima, Japan |
| First Introduced | February 1989 |
| Mazda CEO | Masahiro Moro |
| Stock Listing | Tokyo Stock Exchange (7261) |
| Current Generation | ND, since 2015 |
| Body Style | Two seat roadster, RF hardtop available |
Who Owns Mazda?
Mazda operates as an independent, publicly traded company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, though it maintains a technology and capital alliance with Toyota.
Ford previously held a significant stake in Mazda, at times reaching around 33 percent, before selling down its remaining shares between 2008 and 2015.
Toyota has held a small equity stake in Mazda since 2017 as part of a joint venture that includes shared electric vehicle technology and a factory in Alabama.
That Alabama joint venture builds other Mazda and Toyota models, but it does not produce the Miata, which stays exclusively a Hiroshima made car.
When Was the Mazda Miata Introduced?
Mazda unveiled the first generation Miata, known internally as the NA, at the Chicago Auto Show in February 1989 to immediate praise from the press.
Engineers drew inspiration from classic British and Italian roadsters, including the Lotus Elan, aiming to revive a simple, affordable sports car formula.
The original Miata used a 1.6 liter four cylinder engine and became an instant commercial success, selling far beyond Mazda initial expectations.
Mazda Miata Corporate and Product Milestones
Mazda debuts the Miata at the Chicago Auto Show to strong critical reception.
Mazda updates the styling and introduces a turbocharged Mazdaspeed variant.
The Miata grows slightly larger and adds a retractable hardtop option.
Mazda returns to a lighter, smaller design closer to the original NA formula.
The ND generation earns the World Car of the Year award at the New York show.
Mazda raises the 2.0 liter engine output to 181 horsepower with a higher rev limit.
Where Is the Mazda Miata Made?
Every Mazda Miata sold worldwide is assembled at the Ujina Plant No. 1 in Hiroshima, Japan, the same complex where Mazda builds several other core models.
Mazda has never outsourced Miata production to an overseas plant, unlike some other models it builds through the Alabama joint venture with Toyota.
Fellow Japanese automaker Mazda is covered more broadly in our guide on who makes Mazda, which details the company full model lineup and plants.
Mazda Miata Generations and Models
The first generation NA, sold from 1989 to 1997, established the Miata formula with pop up headlights and a simple 1.6 or 1.8 liter engine.
The second generation NB, sold from 1998 to 2005, updated the styling with fixed headlights and later added a turbocharged Mazdaspeed variant.
The third generation NC, sold from 2005 to 2015, grew larger and heavier while introducing a folding hardtop Power Retractable Hardtop option.
The current fourth generation ND, in production since 2015, returned to a lighter and smaller design and later added the RF retractable fastback body style.
Mazda Miata by the Numbers
The Miata long production run has made it one of the most commercially successful sports cars in automotive history.
That sales record earned the Miata a Guinness World Record as the best selling two seat convertible sports car ever produced.
How Does the Miata Compare to Other Affordable Sports Coupes?
The Miata competes in a small segment of affordable, lightweight sports cars alongside the jointly developed Toyota GR86 and Subaru BRZ twins.
Unlike those coupes, the Miata remains the only true convertible in the segment, which appeals to buyers who specifically want open top driving.
Toyota sold a closely related coupe through its former Scion brand, covered in our guide on who makes Scion, which competed in a similar price range.
The Miata lighter weight and rear wheel drive layout give it a distinct driving character that owners often describe as more engaging at lower speeds than rival coupes.
Is the Mazda Miata Worth Buying?
- Light, nimble handling that consistently earns praise from reviewers
- Strong reliability record backed by Mazda simple, proven engine
- Multiple 10Best awards from Car and Driver across four generations
- Relatively affordable entry price for a genuine sports car
- Limited cargo space and only two seats reduce everyday practicality
- Modest horsepower compared to some rival sports coupes
- Soft top model requires manual operation on base trims
- Firm ride quality on Club and Grand Touring suspension tunes
Car and Driver has named the Miata to its 10Best list numerous times, citing its balance and driving feel as reasons it remains a benchmark sports car.
Consumer Reports also rates the Miata reliability highly, making it a practical choice for buyers who want a fun car without excessive maintenance risk.
What Is Next for the Mazda Miata?
Mazda has confirmed the current ND generation will continue with regular trim and feature updates rather than a near term full redesign.
Industry reporting suggests Mazda is studying hybrid assistance for a future Miata generation while working to keep the car light and affordable.
Mazda has stated it wants to preserve the Miata simple, driver focused character even as emissions regulations push more of the industry toward electrification.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes the Mazda Miata
Does Mazda still make the Miata?
Yes, Mazda continues building the Miata in the current fourth generation ND at its Ujina plant in Hiroshima, Japan, with ongoing yearly updates.
Is the Mazda Miata the same as the MX-5?
Yes, Miata and MX-5 refer to the same car; Mazda uses the MX-5 name in most global markets and the Miata name primarily in North America.
Where is the Mazda Miata built?
Every Miata is assembled at the Ujina Plant No. 1 in Hiroshima, Japan, and Mazda has never moved production of this model overseas.
Is the Mazda Miata reliable?
The Miata generally earns strong reliability ratings from Consumer Reports, helped by its simple mechanical layout and proven engine designs.
For current pricing and specifications, visit the official Mazda MX-5 page.
Additional model history is available on the Mazda MX-5 Wikipedia page, and background on the parent company is available on the Mazda Wikipedia page.
Buyers cross shopping a Miata against a GR86 or BRZ often find the decision comes down to whether open top driving matters more than the practicality of a rear seat delete hatchback style trunk.
Either way, all three cars share a similar mission of keeping weight low and driver feedback high in an era when many sports cars have grown larger and heavier.
Used Miata prices remain accessible across every generation, making it one of the easiest ways to own a genuine rear wheel drive sports car on a modest budget.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.