Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers despite offering a less range that its rivals.
The small crossover's 35.5-kilowatt-hour battery pack provides an estimated range of 200 km (124 miles). In comparison, the 39-kWh battery pack in the Kia e-Niro and Hyundai Kona Electric offers ranges of 235 km and 255 km, respectively.
"The vast majority of battery-electric car buyers choose them as a second or even third car in the family," Mazda Italy Managing Director Roberto Di Pietrantonio said during an online presentation for the car this month. "The MX-30 will cater to the needs of customers with relatively low miles driven per day, mainly in large metropolitan areas but also in wealthy midsize towns."
While its main rivals can also be equipped with a 64-kWh battery that extends the e-Niro's range to 370 km and the Kona Electric to 400 km, Mazda hasn't announced plans to offer a more powerful battery.
Its engineers, however, are working on a version with a range-extending variant that will be the first to get a revived version of Mazda's rotary engine when the company introduces the technology in 2022.
In Japan Mazda will offer the MX-30 first as mild hybrid, adding the full-electric variant next year, but only as part of a lease program. Mazda said the mild hybrid's motor-assist system gives the engine a boost from a full stop, facilitates controlled braking and provides smooth power when accelerating on the road.
Mazda has no plans yet to offer the MX-30 mild hybrid in Europe.
Mazda has high hopes for low-range MX-30 EV
Mazda Europe President Yasuhiro Aoyama says the MX-30 is "an indispensable part" of the automaker's strategy to avoid penalties for exceeding the EU's tougher CO2 rules.
Mazda Europe President Yasuhiro Aoyama says the MX-30 is "an indispensable part" of the automaker's strategy to avoid penalties for exceeding the EU's tougher CO2 target that starts to come into effect this year. He says that those fines threaten the Japanese automaker's profitability in the region.
Mazda's 2019 fleet emissions were 135.4 grams per km, according to JATO Dynamics, ranking it 19th out of 20 brands listed by the market researcher. Only Mercedes-Benz was higher at 140.9 g/km. Meanwhile Toyota's fleet total last year was Europe-best 97.5 g/km, according to JATO figures. The overall vehicle fleet average of 121.8 g/km last year needs to drop to 95 g/km by 2021.
Mazda's CO2 emissions will drop to 123.6 g/km in 2021, missing its 94.9 g/km target and putting the automaker at risk of a 877-million euros EU penalty, according to research by PA Consulting.
The MX-30 is built on the same platform as the CX-3 and CX-30 crossovers. As a result it is as long (4395 mm) and as wide (1795 mm) as the CX-30. In addition, the sibling models also have the same 2655 mm wheelbase.
The MX-30's electric motor offers a maximum power of 143-hp as well as 271 newton meters of torque.
The exterior features an evolution of Mazda’s Kodo design language, with fewer curved surfaces and a sleeker roofline distinguishing the MX-30 from its combustion-engined CX-30 sibling.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
Mazda expects its first full-electric car for Europe, the MX-30, to appeal to affluent, urban, customers. The automaker will offer the crossover as a mild hybrid in Japan but has no plans yet to bring this powertrain to Europe.
