Mazda's first electric vehicle developed from the ground up, likely called CX-5e, has reportedly been delayed by at least 12 months.
Electric Cars
The first Mazda electric vehicle developed from the ground up, rather than derived from a petrol car or a Chinese partner, has reportedly been delayed.
Auto Express reports the first vehicle on Mazda's scalable electric-vehicle architecture, likely a Tesla Model Y-sized medium SUV potentially called CX-5e, won't launch until 2028, "at the earliest".
Mazda announced its "EV-dedicated platform" in 2021, when it said the first vehicles would be introduced "around 2025", but more recently, it was expected to launch its maiden in-house EV model in 2027.
Christian Schultze, deputy general manager of research and development at Mazda Europe, told Auto Express "EV technology is not something stable".
"While you're developing, things are changing [and advancing]," Schultze said.
"That's why we decided that this launch plan of vehicles we are having right now with partner [technology] and with our own vehicles gives us opportunities, and a certain relief and the ability to do it right."
Schultze referred to the Australia-bound Mazda 6e sedan and Mazda CX-6e SUV, which have been developed using technologies from its Chinese joint-venture partner Changan Automobile.
The manager said the 6e and CX-6e "gives us now the right car we need at this point in time," but it will have more flexibility with its own scalable electric-vehicle architecture.
"Some [other manufacturer’s architectures] have already disappeared, or have been recognised as too expensive or too heavy and so forth," Schultze added.
"We give ourselves some more time to prepare the best possible solution."
The Skyactiv EV Scalable Architecture, which will be based on, supports different sizes and body types, similar to the Volkswagen Group's also delayed Scalable Systems Platform (SSP).
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Jordan is a motoring journalist based in Melbourne with a lifelong passion for cars. He has been surrounded by classic Fords and Holdens, brand-new cars, and everything in between from birth, with his parents’ owning an automotive workshop in regional Victoria. Jordan started writing about cars in 2021, and joined the Drive team in 2024.
