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Mazda B-Series

The Mazda B-Series was a line of pickup trucks manufactured by Mazda from 1961 to 2006.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 27, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

The Mazda B-Series was a line of pickup trucks manufactured by Mazda from 1961 to 2006, spanning five generations. Sold in various markets under different names, the B-Series included rebadged versions associated with Ford in some regions. This model line is relevant to Canadian readers because compact pickup trucks were sold in North America, including Canada, and the B-Series is part of Mazda’s broader light-truck history.

History

The Mazda B-Series began production in 1961 and continued through five generations until 2006. It evolved from a light commercial pickup into a globally sold compact and midsize truck line.

Model naming

Mazda identified many B-Series trucks by engine displacement, which is why model names included numbers such as B1500 and B2600. This naming practice made the lineup easy to distinguish by engine size.

International markets

The B-Series was sold in many markets under different badging arrangements. In some regions it overlapped with Ford-branded or Ford-related pickup models, while Mazda later replaced it with the BT-50 outside North America.

North American versions

In North America, later B-Series trucks were closely related to the Ford Ranger platform and were marketed as compact pickups. The line remained on sale there into the 2000s before being discontinued.

Key facts

  • The B-Series was Mazda’s pickup truck line, produced for five generations from 1961 to 2006.
  • Mazda used engine displacement in model names such as B1500 and B2600.
  • The line began as a commercial vehicle positioned above a kei truck in Mazda’s range.
  • In some markets, B-Series trucks were sold under other names or as Ford-related models.
  • The model line was succeeded globally by the Mazda BT-50 after production ended.
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Canadian context

Mazda’s B-Series is relevant to Canadian readers because compact pickup trucks were sold in North American markets, including Canada, and the model line is part of Mazda’s broader light-truck history.

Frequently asked questions

What was the Mazda B-Series?
It was Mazda’s pickup truck lineup, produced in five generations from 1961 to 2006.
How many generations did the Mazda B-Series have?
Five generations.
What replaced the Mazda B-Series?
The Mazda BT-50 replaced it in markets outside North America.
Why do some B-Series names include numbers like B1500?
Mazda used engine displacement in the model name, so B1500 indicated a 1.5-litre engine and B2600 a 2.6-litre engine.
Was the Mazda B-Series sold under other names?
Yes. It appeared in some export markets under different names and had ties to Ford-badged variants in certain regions.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_B_series
    Supports: Production years, five generations, origin as a commercial vehicle, and engine-displacement naming.
  2. Wikipedia (Ukrainian) — https://uk.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_B-Series
    Supports: Production years, successor Mazda BT-50, and global replacement outside North America.
  3. Wikipedia (Indonesian) — https://id.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mazda_B-Series
    Supports: Alternative names in export markets and Ford collaboration.
  4. Consumer Reports — https://www.consumerreports.org/cars/mazda/b-series/
    Supports: North American B-Series relation to Ford Ranger and discontinuation timing in North America.
  5. Autoevolution — https://www.autoevolution.com/news/2026-mazda-b-series-comes-back-to-life-for-america-though-only-across-imagination-land-254361.html
    Supports: Historical overview of U.S. market naming and end of production in 2006 internationally.