13 electrified models for Mazda by 2025
Mazda has often been criticized for its certain technological backwardness in transport electrification, at least in the North American market. The possible arrival of the small Mazda MX-30 gives hope, as does the announcement made last Friday for the small Japanese manufacturer. Mazda has given details of its product electrification strategy which will include, among others, 13 newly electrified vehicles by 2025.
Five hybrid vehicles, five plug-in hybrid vehicles and three fully electric vehicles will land by 2025 on a global scale. These vehicles will be destined for five main markets – Japan, China, North America, Europe and Southeast Asia – and will be based on the “Multisolution Scalable Architecture SKYACTIV »Currently used for several models of the brand. It is not clear at this time which models will be affected, or which models will be offered in North America.
The second phase of development will be based on another completely new architecture called “EV SKYACTIV Scalable Architecture” and intended only for electric vehicles. This platform will be modular in the sense that it can be adapted to several types of vehicles with different wheelbases and bodywork. It will arrive in 2025 and will be the basis of several products that will be launched by 2030.
These two phases will allow Mazda to reach the goal it has set of selling approximately 25% of electric vehicles by 2030 and to offer electrified mechanics – hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric – in 100% of products. offered. While it cannot be described as ambitious in comparison with that of other brands such as Volvo or Cadillac, this objective nevertheless seems more closely linked to the strategy of Toyota, Toyota’s main partner in terms of transport electrification.
Other improvements to come
Among other improvements in the pipeline, Mazda is currently working on a Mazda Co-Pilot 1.0 semi-autonomous driving system that will continuously monitor the driver’s attention for added safety and is expected to be launched in vehicles. general public in 2022. Other in-vehicle technologies such as a next-generation infotainment system with connected features and update without travel will be developed in collaboration with other Japanese companies such as Toyota, Subaru and Suzuki.
Mazda also gave some information on the next Mazda6 by showing its new rear-wheel-drive architecture and its in-line 6-cylinder engine. This engine will incorporate 48-volt mild hybrid technology and will also be used for a full-size SUV, arguably the replacement for the current Mazda CX-9, which arrived here in 2016.
These new developments are part of a five point plan that will dictate “technology and product development”. These five points are “accumulation and use of technological assets for highly efficient manufacturing, in line with our core strategy, promotion of electrification and product launch – Multisolution strategy, promotion of human-centric security technologies to create an accident-free society, Development of technologies for connected services and software technologies as the basis for next-generation mobility services and a development philosophy focused on the human factor in an era defined by carbon neutrality and CASE. “
