The first few Mazda EVs arriving from 2025 will likely be volume-selling crossovers and SUVs.
Mazda chief executive Masahiro Moro has recently announced plans for the automaker have seven or eight EVs in its lineup by 2030, and believes they will account for 25-40% of its global sales. These plans are certainly less aggressive than the rest of the industry, but is apparently an intentional act that stems from the current uncertainty in demand for EVs.
“One of the big issues for us is demand is uncertain,” Moro elaborated on its more conservative stance of EV expansion. “In the current market, the reality for electrification, in particular for battery EVs, is the pace is not that high. So we may start a little slower in terms of the ramp-up. Not necessarily in terms of timing, but the ramp-up.”
“We anticipated a range of 25 percent to 40 percent. But nobody knows,” he further added of the relatively modest projected EV share in Mazda’s future sales. “Everyone is scaling back investment or pushing back timelines. The current trajectory may result in the lower percentage of that range. But nobody really knows.”
“That is why I call us an intentional follower on EVs. Between now and 2030 is the dawn period of electrification — we have to go over this bumpy ride. We just have to deal with the consumer’s needs and wants. Right now, the customer is looking for alternative solutions — other than battery EVs,” Moro reiterated.
Discussing further regarding Mazda’s EV plans though, Moro said these future models will be developed and sold through the new e-Mazda division and built on a scalable EV platform that the automaker plans to introduce in the coming years. The first of these new models should launch between 2025 and 2027, with crossovers and SUVs rather expectedly being the first of theses EVs to be launched.
It has been further teased by Moro for said e-crossovers will arrive featuring ‘more of an SUV look’, adding that Mazda has the technology to decrease the drag coefficient to get as extend an EVs range as far as possible on a single charge. Other key details revealed regarding these new EVs are that they will be powered by either one or two drive motors, with production to initially be based in Japan with North America under consideration from 2028.
What more is that while exact battery and powertrain specs in these future EVs have yet to be teased by Mazda, it will not be all that surprising to see some Toyota badging on components used in these cars. That is as in a totally candid admission by Moro, the collaboration on electronics and automotive software systems development with the Japanese auto giant will enable the automaker to save some 70-80% of the total investment costs of going it alone.
And due to the focus first on primarily things that will make the automaker money, it is unfortunate to report that an all-electric Miata/MX-5 will not be on the cards for a long while yet. Though it is worth highlighting that the next-gen roadster will nevertheless likely get some electrification tech in the form of a presumed hybrid powertrain. Besides, is anyone actually looking forward to what will likely be a heavier battery-powered version of the current lightweight sports car?
