This Is The Reason Mazda Is Not In A Hurry To Develop Electric Vehicles

Mazda CX-60 Autoexe at GIIAS 2024. (Photo: Bagus Muhammad Hafizh / VOI)

JAKARTA - Mazda is one of the Japanese manufacturers that does not have many electrification models in both the global market and Indonesia. However, this brand has its own reasons why it is not in a hurry to develop electric vehicles.

Chief Operating Officer of PT Eurokars Motor Indonesia (EMI) Ricky Thio, said that manufacturers in producing vehicles cannot run away from the Jinba-Ittai concept, namely the relationship between the car and the driver.

"Does Mazda have to run away from Jinba-Ittai's concept just to bring an EV? I don't think so. That's a definite thing," Ricky said when met by the media in Simprug, Jakarta, Tuesday, August 6.

He also believes that Mazda is not a brand that has the principle of presenting vehicles in order to catch up and follow current trends.

As in my experience, Mazda is a brand that holds the principle. So, for me, the (electrification) thing that is FOMO is just temporary, "said Ricky.

Ricky also proved that Mazda had presented electrified vehicles globally but maintained the Jinba-Ittai concept, such as the EZ-6 in China, the MX-30 on display at the Gaikindo Indonesia International Auto Show (GIIAS) 2023, and the CX-60 which was launched one year ago in the country.

"We have EZ-6 in China, then EV (MX-30) which we showed off at GIIAS last year, we also have a hybrid (CX-60). So, we have principles and focus on Jinba-Ittai and we don't want FOMO," explained Ricky.

He also emphasized that whatever environmentally friendly vehicles will be developed later, the hallmark of Mazda in the form of Kodo design and Jinba-Ittai philosophy must still exist.

"Say one day we have a vehicle with whatever alternative fuel it is, the Kodo design and the Jinba-Ittai philosophy will not disappear because this is the core of Mazda," he added.

Even though it has sold CX-60 as a single hybrid vehicle in Indonesia, this brand will introduce other hybrid cars but the manufacturer cannot provide certainty on the launch date.

"Later we will have another hybrid, but if it's about the date, we can't inform you yet," concluded Ricky.