Mazda plans carbon neutrality by 2050

Mazda has announced plans to accelerate the electrification of its lineup, with the ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Between 2022 and 2025 the Japanese manufacturer will launch a range of products utilising its SkyActiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture, including five self-charging hybrids, five plug-in hybrids and three battery electric models.

Using this platform, electrification will go ‘hand in hand’ with the development of efficient new internal combustion engines, including e-Skyactiv X powertrains and new straight-six engines for its range-topping models. The latter will be available in both petrol and diesel, with 48-volt mild-hybrid hardware to reduce emissions. A new rotary engine will provide range-extender capabilities to models including the MX-30, while a four-cylinder plug-in hybrid powertrain is also anticipated.

Mazda has also confirmed it’s developing a dedicated electric vehicle platform called SkyActiv EV Scalable Architecture. This will underpin battery electric Mazda models launched between 2025 and 2030, and designed to compete with the Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform models.

The manufacturer will continue to improve safety and target ‘a society without traffic accidents’. This will include the introduction of its autonomous driving system ‘Mazda Co-Pilot’ in its more luxurious products from 2022. Future versions of this system will be able to monitor the driver’s physical condition, and switch automatically to autonomous driving, where the system will navigate the car to a safe place and summon the emergency services if it detects the driver has become ill behind the wheel.