Slower-than-expected demand prompts Mazda to prioritize hybrids, pushing back its dedicated EV launch by at least two years
Mazda reportedly postpones in-house EV launch. Arrival now expected in 2029, rather than 2027. Company to focus on hybrid models in the meantime.
Mazda joins a growing list of automakers that have quietly delayed electric vehicle programs due to weaker-than-anticipated market demand. Reports from Japan suggest that the company’s first dedicated EV may not arrive until 2029 at the earliest.
Details remain limited, but sources cited, including Nikkei and Nikkan Jidosha, indicate that production has been pushed back by a minimum of two years. In the meantime, Mazda will reportedly concentrate on more popular hybrid models.
While a Mazda spokesperson noted that the company hasn’t officially made an announcement, they did not outright deny the reports. In a statement, they said:
“We continue to advance the technological development of our proprietary BEVs based on our multi-solution strategy, and will determine the timing of their introduction while carefully assessing regulatory trends in each country and changes in customer needs.”
This statement suggests that the EV launch timeline is still fluid and could slip beyond 2027.
Spy photographers captured a mule undergoing testing in California late last year. The prototype reportedly used a heavily modified CX-70 or CX-90 body, featuring a fully enclosed grille and blocked-off air curtains. The vehicle appeared roughly the size of a CX-50, but narrower than its body implied.
Although details are scarce, the upcoming EV is expected to use Mazda’s Skyactiv EV Scalable Architecture. Announced in 2021, the platform was initially intended to debut last year. That launch did not occur, and plans for several vehicles built on the architecture between 2025 and 2030, spanning multiple sizes and body types, now appear uncertain.
Several shifts in recent years have affected Mazda’s EV plans. In the U.S., new tariffs and the elimination of the clean vehicle tax credit have contributed to lower EV sales, prompting automakers to reconsider strategies.
Despite these delays, Mazda continues to pursue electric mobility. The company recently launched the CX-6e in Europe, developed in partnership with Chinese joint-venture partner Changan. This model shares significant design and technical DNA with the Deepal S07, demonstrating Mazda’s ongoing commitment to EV development.
