Latest news with #MX30
Motor 1
27-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
Mazda's First Electric Car Is Dead in Europe
Raise your hand if you saw this coming. After exiting the US a couple of years ago, the purely electric MX-30 is also dead in Europe (including the UK). We noticed the model's absence from several configurators across the Old Continent, so we contacted Mazda to find out what's happening. Sure enough, the small crossover without a combustion engine has been quietly retired. Here's what Monique Clark from the company's UK PR office told us: 'The MX-30 BEV has been removed from sale in Europe, and all examples in the UK have now been sold. The Mazda MX-30 BEV has ceased production for both Europe and the UK. However, the award-winning MX-30 R-EV continues to be available for customers who want the EV driving experience with the range confidence provided by the rotary engine generator.' Europeans can still buy the MX-30 e-Skyactiv R-EV , a mouthful of a name for the range-extending version. It's the only production vehicle with a rotary engine, though it doesn't drive the wheels. Instead, the small 830-cc naturally aspirated single-rotor unit acts as a generator to charge a 17.8-kWh battery pack. Mazda doesn't sell this version in North America, where a more powerful two-rotor setup is in development for an unspecified model. Plot twist: The rotary MX-30 isn't the only flavor with a combustion engine. In Japan and other markets, it's also offered with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter gasoline engine featuring mild-hybrid technology. Mazda started production of the small crossover and its RX-8-styled suicide doors about five years ago. Mazda is launching a larger EZ-60 SUV in China with a range-extender, though not a rotary one. It's expected to reach other markets, especially since the EZ-6 sedan has already been rebadged as the 6e in Europe. Similarly, the EZ-60 could be renamed CX-6e for Europe and other regions. But because these vehicles are made in China, they're unlikely to be sold in the US due to newly imposed tariffs. 2024 Mazda MX-30 (UK-spec) 95 Although the MX-30 will be remembered as Mazda's first mass-produced EV, there was one before it. In 2012, Mazda launched the Demio/Mazda2 EV subcompact hatchback in Japan as a limited series of about 100 units. However, all were leased to local governments and corporate clients near the company's headquarters in the Chugoku region. Mazda's first dedicated electric vehicle platform will be ready in 2027, and a 'full-scale launch of EVs' will begin a year later. Catch Up With Mazda: Mazda Will Put a Bigger Engine in the Next Miata New Mazda CX-5 Stalked in Traffic Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Mazda Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Sun
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Sun
Major car brand discontinues its first and ONLY electric car that was hamstrung by short range & poor practicality
MAZDA is pulling the plug on its first and only electric car, criticised during its four-year run for its limited range and cramped cabin. The MX-30, which made its world debut back in 2019 at the Tokyo Motor Show, is a subcompact crossover SUV offered as an EV and as a plug-in hybrid. 4 4 4 4 But now, it's electric variant has quietly reached the end of its production lifespan. Launched in the UK in 2021, the MX-30 was positioned against the likes of the Kia Soul EV and Peugeot e-2008. However, it struggled to gain traction, primarily due to its short range and limited practicality. One of the most significant criticisms of the MX-30 - aside from its bizarre, coach-style doors - was its modest range of just 124 miles, thanks to its 35.5kWh battery. The smaller battery size, chosen to reduce the car's weight, improved its handling and lowered its CO2 emissions during production, but also resulted in persistent range anxiety among drivers. Indeed, today, rivals like the Jeep Avenger, Renault 4, and MINI Aceman offer ranges of around 250 miles - further highlighting the MX-30's shortcomings. WHAT'S NEXT? While the fully electric MX-30 has been axed, the plug-in hybrid version remains on sale in the UK. This variant, equipped with a fully charged battery and a full tank of petrol, can cover more than 400 miles, according to Mazda. What's more, the brand is set to give electric cars another stab next year with the 6e saloon, which is poised to be in the same segment as the top-selling Tesla Model 3. A fully electric SUV is also in the pipeline, but the decision to temporarily pluck its only pure electric vehicle in its lineup is bold - particularly in light of the UK Government's ZEV mandate. EZ-6 Under the current mandate, at least 28% of manufacturers' new car sales must be zero-emissions vehicles by 2025, prompting many brands to prioritise EV production. As reported by Auto Express, a Mazda spokesperson said: 'Mazda will meet the requirements of the ZEV/VETS legislation through the various flexibilities within the scheme and the introduction of further BEVs.' This comes as Sun Motors supremo Rob Gill recently got to road-test the new Mazda 3, featuring a gutsy 2.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine.
