Mazda Motor Corporation

Mazda has a series of reduction targets aimed at its fleet emissions and manufacturing emissions. These targets are informed by scenario analysis using the International Energy Agency’s projections. They are both aligned with the targets set for the low-carbon pathway. Moreover, Mazda has set 2030 and 2050 fleet emissions reduction targets that are even more ambitious than required under the low-carbon pathway, particularly the target to reduce fleet emissions by 90 percent by 2050, as compared to 2010 levels.

Mazda does not have any initiatives to promote low-carbon vehicles or encourage their uptake. The company should improve its consumer engagement and marketing to boost the sales of its low-carbon vehicles, in particular its newly released MX-30 – a battery electric SUV that will enter production in 2021 – as well as its forthcoming plug-in hybrid models.

Mazda is investing in alternative business activities beyond traditional personal vehicle ownership. The company aims to reduce some of the structural barriers that low-carbon vehicles face when entering the market and is developing state-of-the-art electric vehicle component technology in a joint venture with Toyota and Denso Corporation. It is also providing new passenger mobility solutions, such as a car sharing service in Japan. While these activities are still in the early stages, Mazda should invest in further developing them to prepare for the transition to a low-carbon economy.

While in the past Mazda has reduced its fleet emissions to be aligned with the low-carbon pathway, more recently its fleet emissions have increased in absolute terms. Moreover, its internal combustion engine efficiency, which plateaued between 2014 and 2016, worsened in 2017. Mazda could restrict its manufacturing of larger, higher-emitting internal combustion engine vehicles to remain aligned with the emissions reduction demands under the low-carbon pathway.

Mazda has set ambitious targets to reduce its fleet and manufacturing emissions that go beyond the demands under the low-carbon pathway. For example, it has a target to reduce fleet emissions by 90 percent by 2050, as compared to 2010 levels The company has also committed to marketing a new battery electric vehicle by 2021.

Mazda has not publicly released a low-carbon transition plan addressing the long term. However, the company is currently working towards its 2030 target to cut manufacturing emissions by 50 percent and a 2050 target to cut emissions by 90 percent.

Mazda is engaged in alternative business activites which help reduce some of the structural barriers that low-carbon vehicles face when entering the market. Furthermore, Mazda engages with policy around vehicle emissions reductions standards in Japan. However, the company does not yet sell any low-carbon vehicles of its own. It is also developing and promoting new mobility solutions beyond traditional passenger vehicle ownership, namely a car sharing service in Japan.

Mazda has reduced its manufacturing emissions as well as driven down suppliers’ emissions, due to its effective supplier engagement. However, the company has only sold a few conventional hybrid models in addition to its internal combustion engine vehicles.

Despite its increasing fleet emissions, Mazda has set ambitious emissions reduction targets. It has also engaged with suppliers to help decrease their emissions. Moreover, the company has shifted its activities away from traditional passenger vehicle ownership towards alternative mobility solutions. Mazda should publicly release a low-carbon transition plan that details its decarbonisation efforts as well as develop a policy to engage with trade associations to further its decarbonisation efforts.