Although electric vehicles are the primary focus in China's rapidly growing plug-in market, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) are also gaining traction. During a press conference at the Japan Mobility Show, Mazda's President and CEO Masahiro Moro revealed that "70% of new car sales in China are plug-ins." He also confirmed that Mazda's forthcoming PHEV would be co-developed with local collaborator Changan Automobile.
As of now, limited information is available about this new model, which is highly anticipated in China. Currently, Mazda offers only one electric vehicle in the country: a specialized variant of the CX-30 crossover. Moro informed Nikkei Asia that Mazda's new vehicle sales had declined by 10% year-over-year from April to September, though he pointed out that the newly released CX-50 and the refreshed Mazda3 have been well-received.
Internationally, Mazda already markets two plug-in hybrids: the CX-60 PHEV and its sibling, the CX-90 PHEV. These models feature a 2.5-liter inline-four Skyactive-G engine, complemented by a 134 hp (100 kW) electric motor and a 17.8 kWh lithium-ion battery pack. In terms of performance, this setup provides 323 hp (241 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) for the CX-60 PHEV, and up to 341 hp (254 kW) and 500 Nm (369 lb-ft) for the CX-90 PHEV in specific markets.
Earlier this year, Mazda offered a sneak peek of a conventional hybrid version of the CX-50 in China via its partnership with Changan. The specs for this model are currently scarce, but it's said to incorporate powertrain technology sourced from Toyota.
Source: Nikkei Asia
