What's the deal with Mazda?

What's the relationship between Mazda and Ford? Who makes new Mazda cars, and where? Are they reliable, like Japanese cars generally are?

ford owns 51% of mazda, mazda uses a few of fords engines and one of their transmissions. the tributes and escapes are made in the same assembly plant, i believe its flat rock, mich. the other models are made in either japan, or usa. as far as reliable goes.... id take a 92 626 over an 05 anything...

What other models use the escape/tribute engine & tranny?