Mazda taking time in EV space to ‘know what we’re doing’

Mazda North America CEO Jeff Guyton assured dealers that the brand is not behind on electrification at its make meeting Friday.

The general sentiment at the meeting was positive, according to Mike Engle, general manager of Jim Shorkey Auto Group, which has 15 stores in Pennsylvania, Ohio and Georgia. Mazda thinks “they have a plan,” Engle said after the meeting.

Mazda currently offers only one full electric vehicle, the MX-30, a 100-mile range crossover being rolled out in limited volume to customers in California.

The transition to electric will require a significant investment from dealers, Guyton said after the meeting.

“MX-30 is a toe in the water for us, prior to more product and national rollout, which is going to start later this year,” he said.

“I want to support [the dealers] to make a good return on their investment,” Guyton said. “We need to know what we’re doing in this space.”

Engle said the nationwide rollout could still probably take four to six months.