Mazda flies solo in HYBRID development

Japanese automaker edges away from financially stricken Ford

Mazda Motor Corp.

is developing hybrid vehicles that combine a gasoline engine with an electric motor on its own, Nikkei Business has learned.

Seita Kanai, senior managing executive officer in charge of Mazda's R&D, acknowledged that the company is working independently of Ford and has a hybrid development plan aimed at a market rollout. "With an increasing array of hybrid models in the future, the challenge will be the appeal of the car itself. We're looking to emulate the Mazda brand of driving pleasure in our hybrids, too," Kanai said of the company's development aspirations.



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