By Mazda In The News
Many automakers are bringing all-electric or plug-in electric vehicles to market over the next few years. But one brand that won’t be launching an EV anytime soon is Mazda, which still sees plenty of potential lurking in the gasoline engine.
Mazda’s president, Takashi Yamanouchi, expects about 80 to 90 percent of the world’s autos in 20 years time will still be powered by gas engines. That’s why he’s optimistic about the company’s growth without having EVs in its lineup.
The automaker’s all-new engine technologies, called SKYACTIV, are expected to help the automaker achieve hybrid-like fuel-efficiency without the need for costly batteries and electric drive units.
“SKYACTIV will be one of the drivers of our growth,” Yamanouchi told reporters at a Tokyo hotel, where Mazda showed the updated Demio, also known as the Mazda2 here in the U.S.
With SKYACTIV tech, the Demio achieves as much as 71 miles per gallon, which surpasses what may hybrid vehicles are able to achieve. Other fuel-saving features on the new Demion include “idling stop,” which turns the engine off automatically while at a traffic light and other temporary stops, helping to boost mileage.
Mazda plans to launch SKYACTIV tech globally over the next couple years. The first application of SKYACTIV in the U.S. will be on the updated Mazda3, which arrives this fall. With SKYACTIV, Yamanouchi expects the company to reach annual global sales of 1.7 million vehicles by the fiscal year ending March 2016.
Although Mazda has no hybrid at this time, the automaker does plan on offering its first hybrid by 2013.
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