Mazda is poised to set a new all-time sales record in the U.S. for 2024, with the Japanese automaker forecasting sales to reach between 410,000 and 420,000 units by the end of the year. This would represent a significant achievement, especially considering the volatility in the automotive market. CEO Masahiro Moro expressed optimism for continued growth, with projections extending into 2025, potentially reaching 450,000 units.
“Year-to-date, Mazda has sold 384,181 vehicles in the U.S., marking an 18.6% increase compared to the same period in 2023,” Moro told Auto News. “November alone was a record setter for us, with 33,422 units sold, our best performance for that month.” Despite the overall industry’s uncertainty, Mazda’s multi-pronged approach to powertrain development appears to be paying off, with models spanning combustion, hybrid, plug-in hybrid, range-extender, and electric vehicles.
The brand’s best-selling model remains the CX-5, which has sold 122,954 units year-to-date. Other top performers include the CX-30, CX-50, and CX-90. On the non-SUV front, the Mazda3 has sold 34,830 units in 2024, while the MX-5 saw a 76.9% increase in November sales, marking its best performance in that month since 2006, although its year-to-date total remains lower than last year.
Looking ahead, Mazda’s CEO emphasized that hybrid and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles are expected to make up around two-thirds of Mazda’s U.S. sales by 2030, with the remaining third divided between plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and full electric vehicles (EVs). “In the short term, we expect hybrids to represent roughly 40% of our U.S. sales,” Moro said, noting that the shift toward electrification is underway but still in its early stages.
Despite slower-than-expected EV adoption, Mazda is committed to expanding its electric vehicle portfolio. “Pushing back the EV rollout gives us a little more time for technology development,” Moro explained. Mazda aims to complete the in-house development of its first EV-dedicated platform and hybrid powertrain by 2027. The company is also working on next-generation lithium-ion batteries, with a 2030 target for PHEVs and EVs, and investing in solid-state battery research.
Further supporting its electrification goals, Mazda is developing a twin-rotor rotary engine, likely to serve as a range extender in hybrid setups. While no specific launch date has been set, Moro indicated that the company is close to meeting emissions regulations. In parallel, Mazda is continuing work on its Skyactiv-Z powertrain, a new combustion engine aimed at achieving unprecedented efficiency. Set to debut by 2027, the Skyactiv-Z is expected to extend the life of Mazdaās gasoline engines, even as the automotive landscape increasingly shifts toward electric mobility.
Source: Autonews