Mazda sticks to gas engines — fueling record-breaking sales

Mazda has been racking up some impressive sales figures by taking a different approach to its powertrain strategy than most mass carmakers. 

The details: Amid looming market challenges, Mazda is on track for a record-breaking sales year, with the Japanese automaker looking to build on its momentum in 2025, as reported by Reuters.

• Mazda is expected to deliver more than 420,000 vehicles in 2024, up 16% from last year. 

• According to the automaker, the increase in sales is attributed to a surge in demand for its gas-powered compact crossover and mid-size SUVs. 

• The company is looking to sell 450,000 vehicles in 2025.  

Between the lines: Mazda’s sales success – powered by the growing demand for its ICE vehicles – is indicative of the company’s position on electrification, as other automakers struggle to solidify a viable product mix.  

• Though Mazda has introduced a few EVs (more specifically hybrids), the automaker has remained committed to gas-powered vehicles. 

• Tom Donnelly, president of Mazda’s North American operations, says that BEVs account for 10% of the company’s market penetration, with no plans to extend it beyond that.    

Looking ahead: Mazda’s gas-focused product strategy could potentially give the automaker a major edge in the market in 2025 amid several looming factors that could affect electric vehicle sales.

• President-elect Donald Trump seems intent on rolling back federal EV tax credits and any related initiatives when he takes office, which could significantly impact electric vehicle sales. 

• Despite some notable increases in EV sales in 2024, there is still some consumer apprehension about the vehicles, spanning infrastructure concerns to the higher cost of EVs. 

• While some expect electric vehicle sales to surge in 2025, others are projecting sales to tumble, with Barron’s referring to 2025 as the “electric vehicle apocalypse.” 

Bottom line: Whether EV sales increase or not, one thing’s certain: the demand for gas-powered cars isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. Mazda seems well-prepared to capitalize on that reality, which could potentially drive the automaker’s sales beyond its projections of 450,000 units in 2025.

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