Mazda isn’t necessarily a large automaker, and so, as a fan of this brand, I am always keeping tabs on how the company is doing sales-wise and financially. Not all is good news, because Trump’s baseline 25 percent tariffs on Japanese-made vehicles (subsequently reduced to 10 percent in recent weeks) have resulted in a $286 million loss for the brand’s April-June fiscal year first quarter, coming from a profit high from the same period last year.
- Founded
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1920
- Founder
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Jujiro Matsuda
- Headquarters
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Fuchū, Aki, Hiroshima, Japan
- Current CEO
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Akira Marumoto
- Status
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Active
- Total Vehicles Sold In 2022
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332,756
At the same time, let’s just say that Mazda’s electric vehicle (EV) positioning isn’t strong, either. Its current crop of EVs is a joint venture project with Changan. While this recipe works in China, its appeal in Europe and elsewhere is still in question. Nevertheless, Mazda does have plans to make itself appear on the radar of EV buyers, making us hopeful about the brand’s future.
To give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturers and other authoritative sources, including Automotive News.
Let’s Talk About Mazda’s EVs
With the unimpressive and poorly-received Mazda MX-30 already discontinued in most markets, the brand only has two EVs in its global lineup. While both are competitive enough, what the world actually wants is an EV that Mazda developed itself.
A Mazda-Developed EV By 2027
And that’s exactly what we’ll be talking about first. The soon-to-be-released purely Mazda-developed EV won’t arrive until 2027, and it couldn’t come at a better time. By then, brands like Toyota and Subaru will already have compelling EVs readily available in their showrooms. Mazda had already announced earlier this year that they are building a battery plant that will utilize cylindrical lithium-ion batteries from Panasonic. Furthermore, they also announced during their fiscal year second quarter 2024-2025 financial results that this future in-house developed EV will utilize a bespoke architecture with flexibility in mind.
Changan Co-Developed EVs Right Now
While North America will have to wait until 2027 for a Mazda EV, Europe, Australia, and even the Asia Pacific region will already receive Mazda’s two new EVs co-developed with Changan. These are the Mazda EZ-6 (called the Mazda 6e for global markets) and the EZ-60 (rumored, but unconfirmed, to be called the CX-6e). These two EVs are underpinned by Changan’s platform for its Deepal-branded EVs and range-extender PHEVs. As expected, the two EVs have been developed with Chinese consumer preferences in mind. The lack of physical controls and, in the case of the EZ-60, a large 26.4-inch 4K OLED screen, are what Chinese consumers demand.
Core Lineup To Receive Hybridization
Mazda recently revealed the third-generation 2026 CX-5, which is going to be the first Mazda to receive its new, in-house (non-plug-in) hybrid system.
New CX-5, CX-50 To Be Mazda’s Hybrid Backbone
We already know that the new-generation Mazda CX-5 will finally receive a hybrid drivetrain by 2027, but why the delay? Well, the in-house hybrid system is going to be hooked up to its new 2.5-liter Skyactiv-Z engine, which is also confirmed to adopt the Lambda 1 combustion method. As we’ve mentioned numerous times already, this latest automotive buzzword means a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio of 14.7:1 for all operating rev ranges. Other details about this engine remain scarce, but what we also know is that this will be Mazda’s first in-house (non-plug-in) hybrid drivetrain.
Fulfilling Mazda’s need for a compelling hybrid SUV without the need to plug in is the CX-50, which has already proven popular since its release. However, the CX-50 utilizes the Toyota RAV4’s fourth-generation 2.5-liter Toyota Hybrid System (THS IV), which, while commendable, doesn’t necessarily possess the throttle feel and driving dynamics of Mazda’s drivetrains. Nevertheless, its popularity is real, and Mazda hopes that the CX-50 and new CX-5 will garner combined sales of 250,000 units.
Updates For The Rest Incoming, Too
But what if you prefer Mazda’s other models? Thankfully, those are still getting updated, beginning with the CX-70 and CX-90 twins. Both models will continue with their available 2.5-liter plug-in hybrid drivetrains and their 3.3-liter mild-hybrid straight-six, and they are set to receive a mid-cycle facelift in 2026. A full generational change, however, won’t be coming until 2030. As for the rest of the Mazda lineup, the CX-30 will come with a minor facelift down the line until a new-generation model arrives by 2029. Lastly, the Mazda 3 will remain for about four more years, with reports suggesting that a new-generation model won’t come until 2032.
Enthusiasts To Be Kept Happy
While Mazda plots its future product plans for what actually sells en masse, low-volume sports cars remain a core fundamental of what defines Mazda. Thankfully, the MX-5 will remain largely pure and unadulterated, while the Iconic SP continues to build its business case to finally bring this to market very soon.
Iconic SP’s Timeline Draws Nearer
Mazda already says that the Iconic SP is almost ready, but what’s holding them back? Well, as with every new model launch, there should be a solid business case for the development program to be profitable. This is the only key ingredient that’s missing for the Iconic SP to be put into production. The Iconic SP was revealed in concept form with a rotary range-extender plug-in hybrid drivetrain, and this two-door sports car with gullwing doors is set to be an RX-7 spiritual successor. So, yes, the MX-5 won’t be discontinued anytime soon.
The MX-5 To Still Remain Pure As Ever
A model that you won’t expect to be electrified anytime soon (or at least in the near-term) will be the next-generation MX-5. Its development is already underway, and one of its key highlights is that it will also utilize the upcoming 2.5-liter Skyactiv-Z engine to be used in the upcoming hybrid CX-5. Whoa, doesn’t this mean that the MX-5 will receive quite a power bump? Not quite.
As I’ve explained with my Porsche 911 Carrera GTS T-Hybrid driving experience, while engines already operate at Lambda 1 most of the time, upcoming regulations require engines to have this combustion method at every rev range. As a result, Lambda 1 actually reduces an engine’s output, and the increase in displacement is mostly to compensate for the expected power loss versus if they applied pure Lambda 1 operation to a 2.0-liter engine. Oh, and expect a manual, as well as lightness and agility to remain part of the MX-5 equation.
