Mazda CEO says Americans want cheap petrol cars

Mazda CEO Masahiro Moro told Automotive News that affordable and reliable internal combustion engine vehicles remain a priority for U.S. buyers.

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Mazda predicts that even at the end of the decade, petrol cars and mild hybrids will account for about two-thirds of annual sales. Plug-in hybrids and electric cars will make up the remaining one-third. In other words, most cars five years from now will still have a fuel tank and exhaust.

"Customers are looking for affordable solutions rather than electrified solutions. They are looking for better value. They are still looking for a reliable internal combustion engine. But we will be capable of making everything some version of electrified, including mild hybrid. Looking at US customers, they are looking for better, reliable engines.," Mazda CEO said.

Moro believes the growth in electric vehicle sales in the U.S. has slowed over the past 18 months, adding that the trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future. That gives the company more time to develop lithium-ion battery packs for plug-in hybrids and pure electric vehicles entirely in-house. Much higher energy density and "very short" charging times are expected. In addition, Mazda engineers already have a "very advanced research base for solid-state batteries."

Mazda is also developing an all-new Skyactiv-Z petrol engine. It will be used in production cars from 2027 and will gradually replace the powertrains of the Skyactiv-G and Skyactiv-X families. A new rotary engine is also being developed, which will act as a generator in the hybrid powertrain.

Source: Automotive News