Mazda to release EV in 2012

Mazda Motor Corp. will develop an electric vehicle (EV) for release in Japan in spring 2012, Mazda President Takashi Yamanouchi said, a shift from its focus on gasoline vehicles. The new EV will be based on the Demio subcompact car and use lithium-ion batteries. When fully charged, the new EV will have a range of about 200 kilometers. It will be initially produced for lease to businesses and local governments, but Mazda will consider making it available to retail customers in the future. On pricing, Yamanouchi said that he wants to make the new car to be competitive with rival EVs, such as Nissan Motor’s Leaf and Mitsubishi Motors’ i-MiEV, indicating that the new EV will be available for less than 3 million yen (US$60,938.13), after government subsidies. He did not disclose expected production volumes. (January 24, 2011)