INSPIRE

Mazdas of the first responders

With Mazda vehicles serving in first-responder fleets around the world, Mazda Stories meets four forces to see what they drive—and what drives them.

The unique, intuitive connection between a driver and their Mazda is known as Jinba Ittai—horse and rider as one. Essentially, you feel at one with the car, meaning your driving experience is as uplifting and safe as possible.

It’s something that every Mazda driver experiences each day, from brief journeys to longer adventures. And across the world, teams of first responders also put their trust in Mazda’s range of vehicles to provide total safety and assurance in their demanding line of work. For these technicians and primary care providers, intuitive handling, impressive fuel efficiency for longer patrols, and ample cargo space for equipment are more than just convenient features—they are fundamental to providing the most effective care possible.

Whether that’s achieved through local outreach or arriving first on the scene, their work echoes Mazda’s motivation for uplifting communities. Speaking to these select few first responders below, we explore why they choose Mazda to further their roles as chosen protectors, and how the vehicles play a vital role in ensuring safety within these communities.

MAZDA MX‑30: BRESCIA LOCAL POLICE, ITALY

The historic Italian city of Brescia, an hour-and-a-half east of Milan, is famous for hosting the legendary Mille Miglia classic car race. And even when vintage cars aren’t thundering down the cobbled streets, there are some impressive wheels in town: the Mazda MX‑30 patrol vehicles of Brescia’s municipal police force, the Polizia Locale.

The force—which handles traffic-control duties as well as tackling a range of issues from drug dealing to financial crime—has six of the all-electric Mazda SUVs. Five are liveried and one is unmarked, with each one patrolling around 50 to 80 to miles daily.

The Mazda MX‑30s entered the service in 2021, with Lombardy authorities contributing to purchasing pure electric vehicles. Superintendent Primo Ragnoli, responsible for the command’s fleet of 105 cars and 41 motorcycles, says of the Mazda MX‑30: “Its electric motor is exceptional, it’s easy to drive, and it’s a very reliable vehicle. The Mazda MX‑30 is easy to handle, and the electric traction provides an excellent starting point for a possible pursuit, since it reaches an excellent speed in an instant.”

MAZDA CX‑3: HAWKE’S BAY RESCUE HELICOPTER TRUST, NEW ZEALAND

For four decades, New Zealand’s North Island Hawke’s Bay Rescue Helicopter Trust (HBRHT) has operated a free, 24/7 air search and rescue and medical service. With a team of 16, plus 40 volunteers supporting with fundraising, the charity conducts over 400 missions a year, dealing with accidents, injuries, critical illness, and rescues across coastal and mountain terrain, as well as rural farms and roads.

Alongside the BK117 helicopter, the trust operates two Mazda CX‑3s as response vehicles (previously, it ran Mazda BT‑50s). Kitted out with portable emergency care equipment used to stabilize patients, the CX‑3s are used by the four critical-care paramedics who provide road support or support the local road ambulance service when resources are limited. Outside these roles, the Mazdas transport the helicopter crew between the base and their accommodation.

“Their versatility and compact nature make them a suitable and reliable choice for driving around town or accessible locations in proximity to the helicopter base,” says Andy Quayle, CEO of HBRHT. “Being a well-recognized brand, Mazda parts and servicing are readily available and financially accessible for a charitable trust.”

Critical-care flight paramedic Heath Gillot adds: “Having a response vehicle has allowed us to provide lifesaving emergency care to the local communities we serve.”

MAZDA CX‑60: RYDE POLICE, AUSTRALIA

You can’t quite see the Opera House from Ryde, but in this suburb of Sydney, one police force has certainly hit the right automotive note. Ryde Police Area Command—with 200 staff and stations in Gladesville, Eastwood, and Ryde—recently took delivery of a brand-new all-hybrid Mazda CX‑60, sponsored by local dealership Ryde Mazda.

The Mazda CX‑60 is “used for all of our community engagement and frees up our operational police cars for our operational response,” says Superintendent Vince Hole, the force’s area commander. “Local police officers are encouraged to build strong connections with the community.” The Mazda CX‑60 enables a wide range of duties, from raising awareness about crime prevention to community outreach and relationship-building, and from attending fundraising events and strategy meetings to transporting policing volunteers to court, and more.

“Arriving at community engagements in the Mazda always receives a positive reaction,” says Constable Erika Nichols, the command’s Crime Prevention Officer. “We often receive comments about how sleek and stylish the Ryde Police look in it when they are used to seeing us in white sedans. Children and adults alike take photo opportunities with it. We also park the vehicle in main thoroughfares as a deterrent method against crime… It’s a real head-turner.”

MAZDA CX‑50: SEDRO-WOOLLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT, USA

About halfway between Seattle and the Canadian border, Sedro-Woolley in Washington State is the gateway to North Cascades National Park—all towering mountains, glaciers, and expansive forests. While the city is best known for its annual log-carving festival, this tranquil setting still needs a police force, and the 22 staff of the Sedro-Woolley Police Department (SWPD) responded to over 7,000 calls in the community last year, explains SWPD Chief Dan McIlraith.

With the “nice little SUVs” offering fuss-free transport for administrative functions, the Mazda CX‑50 also represents great value with the model’s impressive fuel efficiency. It’s a vital feature in the “proactive policing” approach the department believes in, helping the officers better serve members of their community, a concept enhanced further by the Mazda CX‑50’s extended range.

For these first responders, depending on the quality, durability, and reliability of their Mazda vehicles is non-negotiable. In situations where a greater range and fuel efficiency can make the vital difference to arriving where they’re needed most, and when eye-catching design can improve the perception of a public-facing emergency service, it’s clear that Mazda is ready and raring to respond to the task at hand.

Words Sachin Rao