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ReprintsMazda studies diesels for U.S.
Mark Rechtin
Automotive News
October 21, 2009 - 12:01 am ET
TOKYO -- Mazda Motor Corp. is studying diesel engines for the U.S. market, a top executive said Tuesday. Test vehicles running diesels are being tested on U.S. soil, said Seita Kanai, head of Mazda's research and development effort. A minimum annual volume of 10,000 U.S. diesel sales would be needed for Mazda to make a profitable retail case. "As an engineer, ideally I would want to introduce diesels, but I am not sure if it makes a business case,” Kanai said. He did not say which Mazda models are being tested. Mazda also is studying the consumer response to Volkswagen AG's hard push into U.S. diesel sales. None of Mazda's existing diesels is mated to an automatic transmission, a configuration seen as necessary for the U.S. market. |
You can reach Mark Rechtin at mrechtin@crain.com.
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