Mazda Scrum Mini Trucks
The Mazda Scrum, introduced in 1989 as the successor to the Mazda Porter Japanese mini truck, reflected Mazda’s strong initial momentum in the mini truck market. However, this momentum waned over time, and Mazda eventually transitioned to rebadging models from other manufacturers instead of continuing its own development.
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Mazda actively competed in the early Japanese mini truck market, producing the Porter Cab until 1989. The second-generation Porter Cab featured a distinctive wide-eyed design, which was carried over to the Scrum. However, the Scrum struggled to match the impact of rival models, ultimately becoming an early casualty to consolidation in the segment.
Suzuki OEM Rebadge
While manufacturers like Mitsubishi and Subaru continued their fight for sales in the Japanese mini truck market, holding out until the 2000s before turning to OEM rebadging, Mazda seems to have conceded much earlier that competing on its own would be an uphill battle.
By 1989, the Porter and Porter Cab were clearly overdue for replacement. Instead of designing a new model in-house, Mazda partnered with Suzuki to rebadge their Carry and Every under the Scrum name. Interestingly, the Scrum badge has never had a distinct history of its own, existing solely as a rebadged Suzuki product.
Buying A Mazda Scrum Japanese Mini Truck
Mazda Scrums have never matched the market appeal of top models like the Daihatsu Hijet or Suzuki Carry. That’s why we recommend the Daihatsu Hijet — the #1 best-selling mini truck. Available in regular cab, Jumbo cab, crew cab, dump, and van configurations, the Hijet offers a solution for nearly any off-road need and handily outperforms competing UTVs.
