In 2008, when Mazda Motor Corp. executives were briefed about Ford Motor Co.'s unexpected decision to sell its stake in the carmaker from a controlling 33 percent to 13 percent, some worried about going alone.
But Takashi Yamanouchi's reaction was unforgettable to those present. "This is a godsend," he proclaimed.
Yamanouchi, who became Mazda's first post-Ford CEO, and others saw a chance to design their own destiny after decades of Ford influence.