Mazda has only ever sold one hybrid electric vehicle in the U.S. and that was the very limited production Tribute crossover. And if you didn't live in California, you were pretty much out of luck if you wanted one.
With Ford's divestiture of Mazda, the Hiroshima, Japan-based company was free to shop around for a supplier of hybrid componentry. No surprise, it chose the heaviest hitter in the hybrid game, Toyota as its supplier. Mazda becomes the second major Japanese car company, along with Nissan, to buy its way into the hybrid game, using Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive system.
A relative pipsqueak in multi-national car making, Mazda could not devote the resources to developing its own system. Instead, Mazda has focused its energy on its Sky line of gas and diesel engines and automatic transmission. The so-called Sky G line of engines, which Mazda unveiled at last fall's Tokyo Auto Show, are a line of fuel efficient direct-injection four cylinder engines ranging from 1.3-to-2.0-liters that will go on sale in Japan next year and spread to other markets shortly thereafter. The company also previewed the Sky D line of efficient diesel four cylinder engines. We recently drove a diesel-powered CX-7 in Switzerland. While it was powered by the diesel currently available in Europe, not the new more-efficient Sky D, it suggests Mazda is contemplating bringing diesel engines to the U.S. once the new generation arrives.
The new engines, the 6-speed automatic Sky transmission, Toyota-sourced hybrid system and Mazda's own weight-saving initiatives and start-stop technology show that the little company is taking a suite approach to meet its goal of improving the fuel economy of Mazda vehicle sold globally by 30 percent by 2015, compared to 2008 levels.
Mazda's first hybrid using Toyota-sourced components and its own Sky engine will hit the Japanese market in 2013.
flicmod says:
01:34 PM, 03/29/10
Is there any reason Mazda wouldn't use Ford's hybrid componentry? It seems to me it'd be easier and cheaper to obtain Ford's, and, after all, Ford is the chief share-holder of Mazda. Can't imagine sourcing from Toyota is cheap...
santiagofdz says:
01:53 PM, 03/29/10
@flicmod...That's not been the case since 2008, when Ford sold a percentage of it's stake and has since no longer been a mayority stakeholder.
yellowbal says:
02:22 PM, 03/29/10
Ford also uses Toyota Hybrid technology.
thegrocer says:
03:26 PM, 03/29/10
Ford and Toyota each independently developed the same system...so each company held patents on bits the other didn't...so they ended up cross licensing their tech to each other.
brn says:
03:51 PM, 03/29/10
yellowbal: "Ford also uses Toyota Hybrid technology. "
As thegrocer says, Ford developed their own hybrid technology. This is a nasty myth that needs to end.
93aero says:
04:50 PM, 03/29/10
I bet it really "dropped a bomb" on Ford that the Hiroshima plant doesn't want to use Fords things....i can't think of any reason why....specially if its between American and Japanese parts that are basically the same; says these other comments.....its almost as though they have a grudge against us for something....weird :p
thejohnp says:
07:59 PM, 03/29/10
According to the article in the Green Car Advisor, the reason Mazda chose Toyota was because:
[Mazda Executive Vice President Masaharu Yamaki said at a press conference that the decision to use Toyota's system as opposed to Ford's was because demand for hybrid cars is quickly growing in the Japanese market, sparked by government buying incentives and Toyota's new Prius and Honda Motor Co.'s Insight hybrid car, both launched last year.
"It is an urgent need to introduce hybrid cars in Japan as the market is rapidly expanding," Yamaki said. "We want to develop a hybrid car quickly, effectively and certainly by utilizing domestic suppliers" of Toyota's components.
Mazda had said that it would seek to introduce a hybrid model early in the 2010's.]
What I don't get is why they won't start bringing over some of their hydrogen/gasoline powered vehicles over to the US. Guess they're waiting for the infrastructure like everyone else...
zoomzoomn says:
06:23 AM, 03/30/10
"thejohnp says:
07:59 PM, 03/29/10
According to the article in the Green Car Advisor, the reason Mazda chose Toyota was because:"
They were afraid that Toyota was getting too much press when it comes to cars that go "zoom-zoom". :)
alex38 says:
10:39 PM, 04/18/10
Mazda to use Toyota hybrid tech? Hmm, interesting. I guess now there will be no Mazda hybrid on my shopping list going forward. Agree with other posts - Ford would have been a nice fit..