Mazda reorganization puts more focus on green vehicles
According to various reports all over the interwebs, Mazda – long known as an automaker most interested in a sporty driving experience – is currently shaking up the ranks of its management in an effort to find the right fit for its executives and enable certain individuals to have more influence over the decision making process at the Japanese automaker. It seems the organizational changes also include the creation of a new department that will oversee the development of eco-friendly and specifically electric vehicles.
Up until this point, Mazda has carefully cultured its racy, performance-minded heritage, which includes the "Zoom Zoom" corporate tagline. With the upcoming rise in CAFE regulations and the overall push towards biofuels and the electrification of the automobile, it's possible Mazda now sees the need to infuse a bit more environmental awareness into its marketing position.
Gallery: Mazda Taiki
[Source: Detroit News, Kicking Tires]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Serge 9:47AM (6/04/2009)
EVs can be very zoom-zoom, and still beat any other car in terms of energy efficiency.
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Throwback 12:10PM (6/04/2009)
Mazda is crazy if they move away from their sporty image and try to out Prius, Toyota.
No reason a eco freindly car can't be fun to drive. Don't dumb down the driving experience just to appear "eco freindly"
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Chris M 1:31PM (6/04/2009)
As the Tesla Roadster so amply demonstrated, electric motors can achieve both high performance and high efficiency at the same time. So, electric zoom zoom is natural and inevitable for Mazda.
Some hybridizing is also likely, since Mazda is partially owned by Ford and already uses the Ford hybrid design in the Mazda Tribute Hybrid. The light weight and compact size of the Mazda rotary engine could result if a high performance hybrid, and the rotary engine is very well suited for use as a "range extender" in a plug-in hybrid.
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