Overview

• Automotive publications reported his death on September 22 with no cause disclosed.
• He led the design of the original NA and second-generation NB MX-5/Miata, a legacy that earned him the “Father of the Miata” nickname.
• He contributed to the FD RX-7’s development through Mazda’s California studio, with final design credit going to global design chief Yoichi Sato.
• Before Mazda, his career spanned GM’s Oldsmobile division, a stint at Holden in Australia, and early work on BMW’s E36 3 Series in Munich.
• He ran Mazda’s U.S. R&D and its California design studio, then headed the Academy of Art University’s School of Industrial Design from 2002 before becoming Director Emeritus in January 2025.