Mazda Plans Battery Factory In Japan For Next-Gen Electric Vehicles

Mazda is enhancing its electric vehicle strategy by establishing a new battery production plant in Japan. The facility, set to open in Iwakuni City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, will focus entirely on building battery modules for Mazda’s first electric vehicle designed on a dedicated EV platform.

Partnering with Panasonic Energy, Mazda will use cylindrical batteries in the new factory, targeting an annual output of 10 GWh. That’s enough to power thousands of EVs each year.

CEO Masahiro Moro previously hinted that the platform development should wrap up by 2027. Mazda says this next generation of EVs will stand out with cutting-edge design, long driving ranges, and user-friendly features.

Mazda’s current EV lineup includes the MX-30, a crossover that launched in 2019. However, it was based on a modified version of Mazda’s SkyActiv platform, originally built for gas-powered vehicles, which has since been discontinued in North America.

In China, Mazda introduced the EZ-6, a midsize sedan available as a fully electric model or with a range extender. It’s built on technology shared with Changan’s Deepal SL03, and the same strategy is expected for the upcoming Mazda Arata EV Concept. That model, slated for 2025, will likely share underpinnings with the Deepal SL07 SUV.

Fans will have to wait a bit longer for the new model, but this move signals that Mazda is serious about its electric future.