Wait, Mazda has an EV? Well, not yet. The company confirmed that the upcoming electric vehicle will be built in Japan. Although it will be made in Japan, Mazda is betting its first EV can beat the Trump administration’s ‘outrageous’ 25% auto tariffs.
Mazda preps for its first dedicated EV amid US auto tariffs
Earlier this year, Mazda revealed plans to build a new module pack plant in Japan for cylindrical lithium-ion battery cells.
Mazda will use Panasonic Energy’s battery cells to manufacture modules and battery packs for its first dedicated EV, which will also be made in Japan.
Officials confirmed for the first time this week that the new electric vehicle will be built at its Hofu H2 assembly plant using its most advanced technology.
According to Mazda’s head of production engineering, Taketo Hironaka, the “cutting edge” tech may even help the company overcome the new US auto tariffs. Hironaka said (via Automotive News), “The 25 percent figure is outrageous,” adding, “We will control what we can.”
Rather than setting up a dedicated production line for EVs, the plant will remain flexible to adjust output as needed.
Mazda said that building gas, diesel, hybrid, and plug-in hybrid vehicles on the same line can reduce investment by 85% and lead time by 80%.
By 2030, the Japanese automaker plans for all vehicles to be “electrified,” while pure EVs will account for between 25% and 40% of global sales. Currently, it’s closer to 25% according to Hironaka.
“We may see a BEV ratio of 100 percent, or it could be 0 percent,” Hironaka said, adding, “Doing mixed production means our BEV ratio will change according to customer demand at a given time.”
Mazda will begin production on the new EV model starting in 2027. The company has yet to reveal prices, driving range, and other specs. It looks like we will have to wait until closer to its launch to learn more.
Electrek’s Take
After launching its first EV in China, the EZ-6, Mazda unveiled the global model, the 6e, which will arrive in Europe and other markets later this year. It will be followed by the CX-6e, the global version of Mazda’s EZ-60 electric SUV sold in China.
However, both models are built in China by the company’s joint venture, Changan Mazda. The US is Mazda’s largest, most important market. To stay competitive, it will need to adjust like most of the auto industry.
Mazda is already in a vulnerable spot with a slew of new, lower-cost, more advanced EVs set to arrive in the US over the next few years. Can its first dedicated EV help turn things around? We all recall what happened with the MX-30 EV, which was killed off in the US in 2023.
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