Mazda is bucking industry trends with its growing lineup of gas-powered SUVs. Can it keep running without a full electric car?
While many automakers are racing towards electrification, Mazda is proving that there is still room for success the gas-powered Japanese automaker is about to crush the US. a sales record that has stood since 1986, with more than 420,000 vehicles expected to be sold by 2024—a 16% increase from the year before
Tom Donnelly, president of Mazda’s North American operations, credited the growth to the popularity of its compact crossovers and midsize SUVs, which had a target of 450,000 vehicles by 2025 said, by Mazda with its compact and midsize The SUV talks about regular sales numbers seen.
Walk slowly to EV
Despite its success, Mazda’s approach to electrification is cautious. The company currently offers three hybrid models: the CX-50 hybrid with Toyota technology, and the CX-70 and CX-90 plug-in SUVs Measured specifications of this hybrid model about is mixed, and all-electric Mazda cars are still few and far between.
Mazda intends to test the U.S. market. the market has been looked at by a fully battery-electric car by 2027. This will be the first EV since the MX-30 which hasn’t been around for a while but Donnelly remains skeptical about rapid EV deployment, at what is coming now in the United States about rate as only 10%. “We’re not the brand that’s out there boldly launching almost 100 percent of the time at any particular time,” he said.
What makes Mazda successful?
Mazda’s lineup relies heavily on a handful of flagship models. Made in Japan, the CX-5 compact crossover is the best-selling car despite being one of the oldest cars in its lineup. Restructuring is expected in the next two years. The CX-30 subcompact hatchback and the Alabama-built CX-50 have also contributed significantly to the brand’s recent growth.
Still, even with potentially inferior offerings, Mazda stands to benefit from a growing share of American consumers who are more interested in hybrid PHEV options versus electric EVs all-powerful, according to data from the Alliance for Automotive Innovation.
Final Thoughts
With the U.S. overall car sales will only increase 2.3% by 2024 by Kelly Blue Book so, Mazda’s performance is outstanding. However, challenges remain. As Mazda charts new territory for the U.S. sales, it still trails rivals such as Subaru, Kia and Nissan, which have struggled in 2024 for a host of its own problems.
Navigating the changing landscape of EV demand going forward will test Mazda’s strategy in the coming years. For now, Mazda’s success confirms that gas-powered vehicles still have a strong following even in a market dominated by electricity. Whether this strategy will continue to work in the long term is a question the company will have to answer as it prepares for the coming years.
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