Do you think Mazda is going to fully enter the pure electric vehicle market? Wait, wait! A few days ago, Mazda reiterated its status as an “intended follower” of pure electric vehicles and stated that it is not yet ready to fully switch to pure electric vehicles. Mazda believes that the current demand for fuel-powered models is still strong.
For the Chinese market, at the 2023 Guangzhou Auto Show, Mazda CX-50 HEV was officially launched, with a total of four models launched, priced from 195,800 RMB to 239,800 RMB. The new car is equipped with the e-AWD electronic four-wheel drive system and Mazda Mi-Drive intelligent driving mode.
In addition, judging from the sales data in November, Changan Mazda sold 9,360 units, and its sales volume is undoubtedly the Mazda CX-50.
Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro recently said in an interview that Mazda plans to launch 7-8 new pure electric vehicles by 2030 with the help of Toyota, and believes that they will account for 25-40% of its global sales. The plans are less aggressive than some rivals and were made amid uncertainty about demand for electric vehicles.
“One of the biggest issues for us is uncertainty about demand,” Morrow said. “In the current market, pure electric vehicles are not moving that fast. So we may be a little slower in terms of launch. Not necessarily in terms of timing, but in terms of acceleration. Between now and 2030, which is the dawn of electrification, we have to go through this bumpy ride. We just have to meet the needs and desires of consumers. Currently, customers Alternative solutions other than pure electric vehicles are being looked for.”
It is reported that Mazda’s future pure electric vehicles will be developed and sold through the new e-Mazda division and built on a scalable platform. The first of these new models will be launched between 2025 and 2027. Sources say the product line will initially focus on crossovers offering single-motor and dual-motor powertrains.
Moro declined to disclose battery pack details, but the company has signed supply contracts with Panasonic and Envision AESC Japan. It also operates a battery joint venture called Prime Planet Energy & Solutions with Toyota and Panasonic.
Not only that, Mazda will also rely on Toyota to cut some of the investment it needs to build pure electric vehicles. Mazda said electronics and automotive software systems developed with Toyota will be used in Mazda-branded pure electric vehicles starting around 2026, which Moro said will allow it to save 70-80% of total investment costs alone.
“There are a lot of things that a single company can’t do alone,” Moro said. “In the past, we might have said this was a competitive area. But now, it’s a collaborative area.”
