Mazda’s first EV a standalone in 2020

Mazda confirms its first all-electric due in 2020 will be a standalone model.

And it won’t come from the partnership formed with Toyota in 2017 to develop electric vehicles, the Mazda EV said to have been in development before the tie-up.

Conjecture among overseas media includes the likelihood of the bespoke EV being an SUV, although Mazda doesn’t say what body shape it will have.

Some Mazda representatives have been reported as saying they don’t want their EVs to look digital or like a fridge.

Mazda said in October it will deploy some form of electrification in all production vehicles by 2030.

It expects that internal combustion engines combined with electrification will account for 95% of the vehicles it produces, and battery electric vehicles will account for 5% by that year.

The 2020 pure electric version is expected to be offered with the option of a range extending small rotary engine which will also be used for Mazda’s plug-in hybrid in 2021.