Mazda: Three new electric models by 2025

Mazda is accelerating electrification with a new proprietary platform. This can offer flexible wheelbases between the axles and thus various battery sizes. This means all Mazda electric vehicles could be built on one assembly line in the future. Mazda has not yet released performance data for the new platform – however, it is assumed that the compact segment will be served first, with electric alternatives for the CX3, CX30, and Mazda 3. The MX-30 is still built on the modified CX-30 basis and accordingly has to make some compromises.

Additionally, five new hybrids and five new plug-in hybrids are expected to hit the market by 2025, with Mazda intensively cooperating with Toyota on this. Up to and including badge engineering: the new Mazda 2 Hybrid is nothing more than a rebranded Toyota Yaris.

The gasoline and diesel engines of the next generation are expected to offer lower CO2 emissions, lower NOx emissions, better fuel consumption, and more power. According to Auto Express, these new internal combustion engines will continue to build on Mazda's well-known Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture. The smaller models are expected to feature 24V mild-hybrid drive trains and the larger ones 48V mild-hybrid drive trains. The MX-30 will also include the Wankel range extender.

And like Porsche, Mazda is also relying on synthetic fuels to reduce the CO2 emissions of its entire fleet without requiring infrastructure changes – the fuel could be obtained from conventional filling stations. According to Auto Express, Mazda is currently investigating synthesized fuels made from carbon drawn directly from the atmosphere using large filters. The carbon is then combined with hydrogen in a ratio to give it the same properties as gasoline and diesel. But only if green electricity is used in the energy-intensive production process is the process almost completely CO2-neutral. Surprisingly, Mazda is also working on biodiesel made from sustainable raw materials such as microalgae fats and used cooking oil. It is important that these raw materials do not compete with land areas for food supply, as is usually the case with biodiesel fuels.

Mazda aims to reduce its CO2 emissions by 50 percent compared to 2010 levels by 2030. Additionally, Mazda plans to achieve full CO2 neutrality in every area of its business by 2050.

What does this mean?

Mazda remains open-minded in terms of drive technologies and continues to support combustion engines: While other manufacturers are fully committing to electric drives, Hiroshima even remains loyal to diesel. It will be interesting to see what the Mazda portfolio looks like by 2025, especially considering that two mainstays, the Mazda 6 and the CX-5, are nearing the end of their lifecycle. Not to mention, the latter was recently facelifted.