Autozam Scrum

The Autozam Scrum debuted in June 1989 as a replacement for the Mazda Porter. It arrived under Mazda’s newly created Autozam marque before the label disappeared and the truck was simply named Mazda Scrum. The model began life as a rebadged tenth-generation Suzuki Carry, inheriting its mechanical package and body structure while wearing Mazda front-end styling cues.

Early Scrums carried a 547 cm³ Suzuki F5B two-cylinder engine producing 34 PS without forced induction or 52 PS when fitted with an intercooled turbo. In March 1990—just nine months after launch—Japanese kei-class regulations expanded capacity limits, prompting an immediate switch to the 660 cm³ DG/DH51 generation with slightly more power and torque. Throughout its life the van/pickup range has continued to use Suzuki parts for engines, gearboxes and driveline, allowing Mazda to offer kei dimensions without developing a dedicated architecture.

Since the 1989 start the Scrum has moved in lockstep with Suzuki Carry/Every updates: the DG51 (1990–1999), the DH52/DF52 (1999–2013), and the current DA16 series from 2013 onward. Each change brings emissions improvements, safety upgrades and interior revisions while keeping the cab-over silhouette and hinged rear doors on vans, or fold-down bed gates on trucks.

Still marketed as the Mazda Scrum three-plus decades after its debut, the model remains Mazda’s sole kei-commercial offering, filling an essential niche with minimal engineering expenditure. Its long production run highlights the practicality of badge engineering and mirrors the bulletproof reputation of the Suzuki donor, cementing the Scrum as a familiar sight in Japanese cities, farms and delivery fleets.