The central M in the Mazda car emblem forms stylized wings.
Mazda introduced its modern silver emblem in 1997. It consists of an M-like shape enclosed by an oval, with the upward-reaching lines intended to suggest wings. Mazda describes the design as expressing flight toward the future, creativity, vitality, flexibility, and resilience.
The emblem is not simply a letter inside a circle. The M is integrated into the oval, so its outer curves and raised center create the winged impression. This design replaced earlier Mazda badges that used different forms, including a more literal letter mark.
Mazda’s name is associated with Ahura Mazda, a deity in Zoroastrianism, as well as with the surname of company founder Jujiro Matsuda. That background sometimes leads people to interpret the badge as a religious or historical symbol, but the modern emblem’s visual explanation centers on the winged M and the company’s forward-looking identity.