Mazda North America CEO Denies Toyota Merger Speculation

The chief executive and president of Mazda North America Operations Masahiro Moro has denied the potential of the marque merging with Toyota, The Detroit Bureau reports.

Speaking during the Automotive News World Congress in Detroit, Moro said the automaker’s tie-up with Toyota remains strictly a partnership and won’t result in the brand becoming yet another division of Toyota.

“Our two companies will jointly work on electric vehicles and vehicle system. However, despite the technology partnership, Mazda intends to remain an independent company. We are driven to make cars and SUVs our way, focusing on making driving better,” Moro said.

Mazda recently announced that it will construct a $1.6 billion factory in Alabama with Toyota. The plant will create 4000 jobs when it opens in 2021 and produce a forthcoming Mazda crossover and the Toyota Corolla. The plant forms just a part of Mazda’s Sustainable Zoom-Zoom 2030 strategy.

The company wants to introduce its latest Skyactiv-X internal combustion engine in 2019, promising to deliver savings of 20 per cent to 30 per cent over the brand’s existing engines. Additionally, Mazda is working on smart technology which it hopes will eventually eliminate traffic accidents.

“We believe in the freedom provided by a personal car. Before any company goes to the time, effort and expense of adding electrification, we are convinced that our industry must maximize the ICE,” Moro said.