Mazda Hesitant on Electric Cars Until Market Matures

Mazda has no intention of being a pioneer in the electric vehicle (EV) market, according to Mazda Australia managing director Vlado Kresovan.

Speaking to CarsGuide, Kresovan said that Mazda is taking a "wait and see" approach to EVs, and that the company is not interested in rushing into the market with a product that is not yet ready.

"We're not going to be a pioneer in the EV market. We're going to wait until the market matures and there's a clear demand for EVs," Kresovan said.

"We're not interested in rushing into the market with a product that's not ready. We want to make sure that when we do launch an EV, it's the best possible product that we can offer."

Kresovan's comments come amid a growing trend of automakers investing heavily in EVs. Volkswagen, for example, has pledged to invest €30 billion (AU$47.6 billion) in EVs by 2025, while General Motors has said that it will be an all-electric automaker by 2035.

However, Mazda is taking a more cautious approach. The company has only one EV on its global product roadmap, the MX-30, which is scheduled to go on sale in Australia in 2021.

Kresovan said that Mazda is taking this approach because it believes that the EV market is still in its early stages of development. He said that the company wants to wait until the market matures and there is a clear demand for EVs before it invests heavily in the technology.

"We don't want to be a follower in the EV market, but we also don't want to be a leader," Kresovan said.

"We want to be in the middle of the pack, where we can offer our customers the best possible product at the right price."

Kresovan's comments are likely to disappoint some EV enthusiasts, but they also reflect Mazda's cautious approach to new technology. The company has a history of taking its time to bring new products to market, and it is not afraid to wait until the market is ready.

Only time will tell whether Mazda's wait-and-see approach to EVs will be successful. However, there is no doubt that the company is taking a calculated risk.

In the meantime, Mazda is continuing to focus on its core business of producing high-quality internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. The company recently launched the all-new Mazda3, which has been praised for its driving dynamics and stylish design.

Mazda is also investing in new technologies such as autonomous driving and connectivity. The company is aiming to have a fully autonomous car on sale by 2025.

Overall, Mazda is taking a cautious but optimistic approach to the future of mobility. The company is not afraid to challenge the status quo, but it is also not afraid to take its time to get things right.

It will be interesting to see how Mazda's strategy plays out in the years to come.