The predecessor of the Porter, introduced in February 1961, the Mazda B360, was available as a pickup (KBBA33) or light van (KBBAV) version of the R360 kei passenger car.

The B600, nicknamed "Soap Box" (Kotak Sabun) in Indonesia for its square shape, was used by numerous government agencies and public utilities.

Mazda's investment consisted of shipping the production equipment to Burma; this was part of Japanese war reparations to Myanmar.

[4] After strict sanctions were imposed in 1988 and the import of Japanese parts became impossible, manufacture shifted to MADI (Myanmar Automobile and Diesel Engine Industries).

Available either as a pickup truck (KBDB33) or a small van (KBDBV), the first Porter (E360 in export markets) was produced from November 1968 to April 1976.

[8] The engine was changed to the new Chantez' 35 PS (26 kW), 359 cc water-cooled, two-stroke two-cylinder unit in April 1973,.

[8] In 1975 the Porter was modified to fit new, larger license plates and the engine downgraded to 32 PS (24 kW) to match new, stricter emissions regulations.

It was a small, cabover pickup truck on a 1,835 mm (72.2 in) wheelbase, equipped with a live rear axle and a 23 PS (17 kW) at 5500 rpm, 359 cc water-cooled, two-stroke two-cylinder.

In April 1976 the Porter Cab also received an engine which met the new, tougher 1975 emissions regulations and the model code PC3A.

When Kei car regulations were changed for 1976, due to shrinking sales in the category, Mazda did not think it a worthwhile expenditure to develop a new, clean 550 cc engine.

The second generation Porter Cab was only available in a bright blue color with light grey trim (bumpers, headlight bezels) and black interior, until the 1983 facelift after which only white was available.