“The CX-5 is going to stay,” Guyton confirmed. “The [discontinued] CX-3 was just too small for the US. I’m not looking to replace the CX-5 with the CX-50. I very much want to take more of that 3 million-unit segment.”
Mazda won’t remain in the combustion-engine-only club for long. Under Guyton, it’s aiming for a “multi-solution approach” to electrification that’ll include hybrids, PHEVs, and, eventually, more EVs.
Mazda is taking its time with the latter because it feels the US needs to upgrade its electric grid before mass EV adoption. Before that happens, some of Mazda’s next-generation models will be underpinned by its new rear-wheel-drive-based large platform architecture designed to accommodate a PHEV system and an inline-six engine. The combined power of the US-built CX-50 and those future larger models will hopefully get Mazda to its goal of 450,000 units annually in America.
Keyword: Mazda Has A Strong Message For America