Mazda revises electrification strategy

Mazda’s top management announced a new ‘Lean Asset Strategy.’ The investment in electrification until 2030 announced in November 2022 will be reduced. “For the battery EV to be launched in 2027, the company expects to reduce development investment by 40% and development man-hours by 50% compared to conventional development through collaboration and partnership,” the statement reads. “In addition, by using existing manufacturing assets to produce both battery EV and engine vehicles on the same production line, the initial capital investment can be reduced by 85% and the time for mass production preparation by 80% compared to building a new factory dedicated to battery EVs.”’ One example is the partnership with Changan, such as the Mazda6e.

Mazda is also announcing a new platform for electric vehicles. The first electric vehicle based on this new platform will be launched in 2027 and will be produced in Japan for all global markets. It will be equipped with battery cells developed and produced in collaboration with Panasonic Energy Corporation – this cooperation was concluded in 2024.

However, the Japanese company is also continuing its “multi-solution strategy” and wants to “flexibly respond to diversifying customer needs and environmental regulations.” To this end, a new 2.5-litre petrol engine, the Skyactiv-Z, will be launched on the market; Mazda has not set an end date for the combustion engine.

Meanwhile in Germany, the Mazda6e will be available in two equipment lines as well as two drive and battery variants and is due to roll out to dealerships in the summer, according to Mazda Germany. Prices from other European markets are not yet known.

In Germany, the Mazda6e with the 68.8 kWh LFP battery for 479 WLTP kilometres is available in the ‘Takumi’ trim for 44,900 euros. The higher-value ‘Takumi Plus’ trim level costs 46,900 euros. This is also exactly the price that Mazda charges for the Long Range version with an 80 kWh battery for a maximum range of 552 kilometres. As the ‘Takumi Plus’, the Mazda6e Long Range costs 48,500 euros.

The special feature of the Mazda6e: although the larger Long Range battery with NMC cells offers a slightly higher range, it has a significantly lower charging capacity: the factory specification for the standard charge cycle from ten to 80 per cent is 47 minutes, while the smaller LFP battery manages this charge cycle in 24 minutes. You can read more about the vehicle itself, its dimensions and production location in this article.

mazda-press.com, mazda-press.com (order start Mazda6e, in German)