Now tell me how you consider Mazda to be one of the 3 main Japanese carmakers
I agree with Toyota and Honda, but I’m not sure about Mazda
IMO Nissan would be #3 on that list, unless I missed something and they’ve been kicked to the curb by Mazda
Might not be the true picture but a search found the top selling cars for June 2016 and there was not a Mazda on the list.
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My bad. This is what I get for not proofing my typing. I had meant to say, “Nissan,” which, of course, is much larger than Toyo Kogyo. Mazda is a spunky, though relatively small, player, as is well known - except for my subconscious, apparently.
T.G.'s willingness to champion odd technologies, like Wankel engines, and to develop uncommon techniques like Skyactiv for piston engines, sets it apart, and it is hoped that any merger or buyout would include a skunkworks-like division which would let the Mazda engineers continue some of their projects, maybe even with better budgets!
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No problem 
I learned something just now . . . I had never heard of “Toyo Kogyo”
But you did know that Mitsubishi was the WWII fighter aircraft builder? Their logo recalls a plane’s propellor, much like some other companies’.
Nissan is owned by Renault of France. So it is technically a European company.
Renault only owns about 40% of Nissan. Japan actually has a law that many of their major companies can only have up to 45% foreign ownership
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Much like BMW . . . I’m surprised you didn’t mention them by name 
Also Daimler-Benz.
Curious that Germany and Japan spawned companies that made motor vehicles
and aircraft (not necessarily at the same time) but I can’t think of any in
North America. Some carmakers did build heavy vehicles like transport
trucks, personnel carriers and even tanks, but aircraft? Conversely, none
of the aircraft manufacturers, as far as I know, got involved in road (or
off-road) vehicles. Curtiss-Wright, for example, might have experimented
with cars or motorcycles, given the Brothers’ original business in
bicycles. Maybe someone can enlighten us?
I suppose Tucker Motors could qualify peripherally, since their original
engine of choice was an aluminum-block air-cooled plant originally designed
for helicopters.
I mentioned BMW specifically, because I know for a fact their blue and white logo is spinning propeller blades
I’m well aware that Daimler-Benz has an aerospace division . . . but I’m not sure their three-pointed star logo is representative of an aircraft’s propeller blades
That’s why I didn’t mention them in my earlier reply
7 world car makers?
Ford
GM
Porche/VW(they are still partnered, right?)
Honda
Toyota
BMW/Mini
Mercedes
They built the items that the government asked them to. Chrysler built engines for the B-29, Ford built the B-24, and GM built engines for the P-38 and P-51.
I just remembered reading something (on the Internet, so can’t vouch too
strongly) that suggested the BMW logo was NOT a propellor. I don’t remember
if the design was explained otherwise, but I also remember being told, at
the dealership where I was getting my 2002s (had two) serviced, that the
logo was a prop. I can’t imagine why the company, which did make aircraft
engines, would have used that design by accident.
Most P-51 Mustangs used Merlin engines built by Packard under license from Rolls-Royce.
I disagree with your source
AFAIK, in very early BMW logos, the blue and white was clearly seen to be spinning propeller blades, but it became more vague over time
…and Packard was chosen to manufacture the Rolls Royce Merlin engine because it was felt that only Packard had the expertise to build that very complex engine design without resulting problems.
That decision proved to be a valid one.
I posted something to that effect a few years ago, and another forum member informed me that the blue and white design was taken from a traditional Bavarian royal crest.
wer weiß?
I just did a Google search and found a BMW history site. They claim the logo started in 1917 and was not propeller related. Something about Bavarian Free State colors but could not be an exact match.
This is the source. See the part about the V-1710 Allison aircraft engine.
Here’s a good article about the replacement of the Allison with the superior Merlin: