Mazda reveals 'Sustainable Zoom-Zoom' strategy

MANILA: Mazda Motor Corporation has unveiled its new technology and product development policy, derived from “Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030,” the company’s long-term vision for technology development.

In 2020, Mazda has revealed its revised medium-term management plan and its initiatives for carbon neutrality by 2050. These became the bases for the technology and product development toward 2030, which follows the following policies:

Accumulation of technological assets in line with building block strategy and utilization for highly efficient manufacturing

Mazda has consistently observed its Building Block Strategy to efficiently develop cutting-edge technologies by building up a set of basic technologies as “blocks.” In 2007, the company developed “Skyactive" technology, which upgraded its internal combustion engines. The fundamental electrification technologies were then included to create the first building block. Since 2012, this architecture has become a technological asset to develop Mazda’s product group.

“We are continuously enhancing our internal combustion engines (Skyactiv-X and new straight-six engines) and electrification technologies as part of the ‘Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture,’ which is used in transverse power units in our Small Products and longitudinal power units in our large products. Based on this architecture, we will deliver multiple electrification solutions to meet various customers’ needs, environmental regulations and the electric power generating infrastructure in a market,” Mazda Motor Corporation said in a statement.

Mazda is also set to unveil a unique electric vehicle (EV) platform called “Skyactiv EV Scalable Architecture” in 2050 for various EV types.

To upgrade its technological assets for the full-scale electrification era with its business partners, Mazda will revise its highly efficient development methods including common architecture, bundled planning, and model-based development.

Promotion of electrification and introduction of products — multi-solution strategy

The Skyactiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture products that will be released in Japan, Europe, US, China, and ASEAN from 2022 to 2025 will include five hybrid models, five plug-in hybrid models, and three EV models. More products will be launched between 2025 and 2030.

With this product launch plan, Mazda expects that by 2030, all of its products will have some level of electrification, 25% of which are fully electric.

Promotion of human-oriented safety technologies to realize an accident-free society

In line with its building blocks for safety technology, Mazda is now working on utilizing its human-centric autonomous driving system, the “Mazda Co-pilot Concept,” in its vehicles. This system observes the driver’s condition at all times. Once it detects an abrupt change in the driver’s physical condition, it automatically shifts to autonomous driving, stops the vehicle, and places an emergency call. The company plans to incorporate the Mazda Co-Pilot 1.0 in its large products starting next year.

Development of technologies for connected services and software technologies as a foundation for next-generation mobility services

Mazda aims to strengthen its efforts in the development of basic software technology so it can accommodate for next-generation Mobility as a Service (Maas) and update vehicle functions over the air (OTA). Mazda is one of the five Japanese OEM companies that will work together to develop standard engineering specifications of next-generation in-vehicle communication devices for a standardized communication system that will provide safer connected services in the future.

The company is also working on the development of next-generation electric/electronic architecture (EEA) that will enable fast data processing from inside and outside a vehicle.

Human-centered development philosophy in a time defined by carbon neutrality and CASE

“The Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 vision places the individual at the center of three areas: the planet, society and humanity. We will continue to follow our human-centered development philosophy, which values the humanity and inherent potential of people, into a future where carbon neutrality and CASE are defining the industry,” Mazda Motor Corporation stated. “By providing vehicles that support people in realizing their full potential, we aim to realize a sustainable and compassionate society.”

Mazda intends to build a special bond with its customers by enriching their lives with an experience of car ownership that offers joy of driving, which is the real essence of cars.

Photos from Mazda Motor Corporation

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