WHILE electrification is taking the automotive industry by storm, Mazda has yet to jump on that bandwagon despite all the biggest automakers adding more hybrid or fully-electric models to their portfolios each year; with electrification spilling over into motorcycles, public transportation vehicles, and even bicycles, vehicle manufacturers have demonstrated that this is a trend that will stay, and Mazda announced last week that the company will finally get on board – next year.
Company CEO Akira Marumoto told Automotive News Europe that Mazda would debut the brand's first battery-electric vehicle in 2020.
In 2021 or 2022, multiple plug-in hybrid models are expected to be released, which should help the company reach strict European CO2 emissions standards over upcoming years.
While Mazda is currently working with Toyota to develop a new EV architecture, Marumoto promises that the EV to be launched next year will be on a Mazda-specific architecture.
He also noted that by 2030, the company intends for all vehicles in the portfolio to be offered with some sort of electrification. – AFP Relaxnews
