A while back we informed you that Mazda had no intentions of bringing a hybrid to the U.S. market, surprisingly, that info has not changed. Instead of hybrids, Mazda announced that they will bring a diesel to the U.S. market. What is Mazda thinking?
Mazda's senior vice president of research and development Robert Davis has this to say of hybrids, "When you're talking about 100,000 units in the U.S., it's difficult to bring that technology over and make it business viable."
Ford Motor Company has a small stake in Mazda, and Mazda would be able to borrow technology from Ford to make a hybrid vehicle. Instead Mazda opts for diesel which sells in extremely low numbers in the U.S.
Would be diesel buyers still remember the racket, clouds of smoke, and stench of diesels made in the U.S. two decades ago and are unlikely to forget it anytime soon.
Mazda's plans are quite shocking as most other automakers have put diesel plans for the U.S. market on hold to focus instead of hybrids and electric vehicles.
Automakers who have cancelled plans for diesels in the past year include Kia, Hyundai, Honda, Acura, Nissan, Toyota, and in light trucks GM and Ford.
Only time will tell if Mazda is indeed making the right move.
Source: Wards Auto
