  On October 1, Mazda North America Operations (MNAO) announced that Yoshiyuki Wada has been appointed as the company's new Vice President of R&D and Design and Quality Assurance. This will make Wada responsible for spearheading product strategy development within the U.S. market and improving collaboration across key manufacturing teams in the U.S. and Mexico. He will report directly to Executive Vice President Takuji Iwashita.
Wada has over 30 years of experience in product planning and program management. He first joined MNAO in April 2025 as Senior Director, Product Strategy & Marketing Expansion, where he helped foster strategic synergies throughout North and South America. He worked closely with Iwashita during this time.
Prior to joining MNAO, Wada served as General Manager of the Product Development Division at the Mazda Motor Corporation. He accepted that role after successfully leading the development of several successful vehicle roles, including the Mazda CX-60 crossover SUV.
Wada succeeds Ryotaro Nishida, who will return to the Mazda Motor Corporation after his term as Vice President.
Mazda has a proud history of sophisticated craftsmanship and innovation within the automotive industry. If you are interested in learning more about what Mazda has to offer or if you would like to test-drive a Mazda vehicle yourself, visit Joe Myers Mazda today. We will be happy to answer any questions you might have and help you find the perfect vehicle for you.
