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Interview with the Executive Vice President
Q1 Mazda’s SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY is highly
acclaimed, but high-efficiency internal combustion
engines play a central role in this technology suite.
What is your thinking with regard to the move to
electric vehicles?
Our basic policy is to meet each country’s respective
environmental regulations by further enhancing the per-
formance of highly efficient internal combustion engines
and other SKYACTIV technologies and pursuing a
Building-Block Strategy that introduces electric devices
in stages.
As we faced the need to meet increasingly strict envi-
ronmental regulations worldwide, we compiled the issues
that needed to be addressed and decided to move forward
by dramatically improving the base technologies that
determine a car’s basic performance, such as the engine
and transmission. In consideration of our strengths as a
medium-sized automaker and to make the most of our lim-
ited resources, we narrowed our focus and developed the
innovative base technologies known as SKYACTIV TECH-
NOLOGY. Going forward, our basic policy is to meet each
country’s respective environmental regulations by further
enhancing the performance of highly efficient internal
combustion engines and other SKYACTIV technologies and
pursuing a Building-Block Strategy that introduces electric
devices in stages.
At the same time, we need to introduce electric vehicles
to meet structural requirements, including ZEV* regula-
tions in the United States, and we are moving forward with
the development of electric vehicle technology. In our
development, we will work to reduce costs and ensure qual-
ity by cooperating with business partners and research
institutions while developing proprietary core integrated
control systems. We are also considering the use of the
“range extender,” or the engine that exclusively generates
electric power, to increase driving range and make such
vehicles more useful for customers.
* A zero emission vehicle (ZEV) refers to an electric or fuel cell vehicle that does not
emit any exhaust gases. California’s ZEV regulations stipulate that for automakers
with sales in the state of a certain number of vehicles, a certain percentage of those
vehicles must be ZEV vehicles.
Q2 What approach is Mazda taking toward automated
driving?
We are developing human-oriented automated driving
technologies based on a strategy of automated driving
technologies that continue to provide driving pleasure.
With regard to automated driving, we are responding to
customer needs through the continuous evolution of our
i-ACTIVSENSE advanced safety technologies. Mazda
believes that above all else, driving an automobile should
be human-oriented, and that the act of driving should pro-
vide a feeling of
Jinba-ittai
and driving pleasure. However,
there is a need for automated driving systems that keep
passengers, as well as people and property around the
vehicle, out of harm’s way in an emergency. Mazda’s
research and development into automated driving is based
on technology true to our ideals, and involves a person
driving in normal situations but with the automated driv-
ing system taking over in emergencies to avert danger.
Specifically, during normal driving, the vehicle monitors
the driving environment and the driver’s movements, pos-
ture, pupils, heart rate, and emotions. It is constantly oper-
ating as if driving the car, is ready to take over at any time,
and provides appropriate information and warnings to sup-
port the driver as necessary. For example, if the system
detects that for a health-related reason the driver cannot
drive properly, it would take control of the vehicle, auto-
matically contact an outside party, and prevent an acci-
dent by driving the car to an appropriate place where it
will not be a danger to people or the surroundings.
Our aim is to contribute to a society in which all cus-
tomers who purchase Mazda vehicles can experience the
pleasure of driving and lead fuller lives.
Working toward qualitative business growth and
brand value enhancement with the aim of stable,
sustainable growth
Akira Marumoto
Representative Director and
Executive Vice President
MAZDA ANNUAL REPORT 2016
6Message from
Management
Review of Operations
Drivers of Value Creation
Foundations Underpinning
Sustainable Growth
Financial Section
Contents