The Tribute made its debut at the 2000 Los Angeles Auto Show as a compact crossover SUV, a segment pioneered by the Toyota RAV4 in 1994. Its conservative styling resembled the Mazda Navajo, a rebadged two-door Ford Explorer which was retired in 1994. In Japan, Mazda had already been selling an SUV called the Mazda Proceed Levante, a rebadged Suzuki Escudo by 1995, but the Tribute was Mazda's first original SUV. The Ford plant in Claycomo, Missouri assembled the Tribute for the North American market, alongside the Ford Escape. The Mazda plant in Hofu, Japan and the Ford Lio Ho plant in Taiwan also assembled the Tribute for their respective markets.  Japanese sales commenced in November 2001.[3]The Japanese lineup was only available with a column-shifted four-speed automatic transmission. The lineup included the 2-liter LX with two- or four-wheel drive, and the four-wheel drive 3.0 V6 either as the LX or the well equipped GL-X. LX models were also available with a "G package": this included aluminum wheels, side airbags, and tinted glass amongst other extras. In May 2001 a front-wheel drive V6 LX model was added, as was the option of an "L package" (with leather seats and more) on the GL-X version. In October 2001 the "Field Break" special edition was introduced; this leisure oriented model had seats with water-repellant fabric, a front pushbar, and other amenities aimed people with "active" lifestyles.