Toyo Kogyo entered the United States market as Mazda Motor America (MMA) in 1970 with a single car, the RX-2.

[citation needed] Mazda quickly rose in prominence, helped in large part to their use of Wankel engines.

The company's sales were slipping due to the Wankel's reputation as a gas hog, so Mazda responded with the reintroduction of a Familia-based car powered by a tiny piston engine, the 1.3 L Mizer.

That car, and 1977 GLC (its next-generation brother) saved the company in the United States with favorable reviews and better sales.

In early 1992 Mazda planned to release a luxury marque, Amati, to challenge Acura, Infiniti, and Lexus in North America, which was to begin selling in late 1993.

Due to the recession of the early 1990s and the effects of the collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble, Amati was cancelled.