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Mazda Enters Strategic Partnership With the Surfrider Foundation

9 February 2000

Mazda North American Operations Enters Strategic Partnership With the Surfrider Foundation

                - Company Plans to Raise Foundation's Profile,
                    Encourage Staff to Make A Difference -

    IRVINE, Calif., Feb. 9 -- Mazda North American Operations
(MNAO) today announced that the company has entered a strategic partnership
with the San Clemente, Calif.-based Surfrider Foundation, an international
non-profit group dedicated to the protection of the world's coastlines,
waterways and harbors.
    Mazda plans to support the Foundation by underwriting and publicizing
research conducted by the Foundation.  The first program will be a yet-to-be-
announced study from the Foundation that both sides hope will inspire
communities to revisit how their actions are impacting beaches, lakes and
waterways.  Mazda also plans to encourage its employees to get involved at the
grassroots level.
    "We wanted to set an example that individuals and companies can make an
impact on their local community and the world," said Richard Beattie,
president and CEO of MNAO.  "The Surfrider Foundation is an international
organization but its headquarters are right in our backyard.  Part of Mazda's
Global Environmental Charter is a commitment to 'promote environmental
protection and contribute to a better society while maintaining harmony with
Nature in our business activities.'  Our partnership with the Surfrider
Foundation meets this goal perfectly."
    The Surfrider Foundation has 25,000 members worldwide.  New chapters are
growing throughout the United States and around the world.
    "This relationship with Mazda is an important step forward for us at
Surfrider," said Executive Director Chris Evans.  "We believe that working
with corporate America is the best way to elicit change.  We plan to work with
Mazda and its employees to make a positive difference here and across the
country."
    The Surfrider Foundation runs a series of programs including:

    -- Blue Water Task Force, a water quality monitoring, education and
       advocacy program.

    -- Respect the Beach, a coastal and surf educational program for K-12
       students and community groups.

    -- Making Waves, the Foundation's bi-monthly national newsletter.

    -- Beachscape, a new program designed to create a detailed dataset of the
       coast.

    -- Surf Site Stewardship, a program to develop teams for community-
       determined coastal conservation efforts.

    Mazda has been among the leaders in the automotive industry in terms of
alternative fuel vehicles and fuel cell technology, including the company's
pioneering work with hydrogen-fueled rotary engines.  The Mazda Protege
recently received an Automotive Market Environmental Sensitivity (AMES) Award
given by amesaward.com, an environmental watchdog.  Both the Mazda Protege and
626 sedans are recognized as the most fuel-efficient vehicles in their
respective classes.  Additionally, the Mazda B3000 pickup truck was the first
flexible-fuel import-brand truck available in the United States.
    Since 1984, the Surfrider Foundation has been a leader in grassroots
environmental action dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world's
oceans, waves and beaches.  With 25,000 members, the Foundation applies
conservation, activism, research and education to accomplish its mission.

    Mazda North American Operations is responsible for the sales and
marketing, customer parts and service support of Mazda vehicles in the United
States.  Headquartered in Irvine, Calif., MNAO has over 750 dealerships
nationwide and owned by Mazda Motor Corporation, Hiroshima, Japan.