Mazda starts manufacture of the MX-30 R-EV

Mazda has announced that it has started mass production of the European model MX-30 R-EV at its Ujina Plant No. 1 in Hiroshima, Japan.

Powered by a unique plug-in hybrid drivetrain, the MX-30 R-EV utilises a 0.8-litre rotary engine and a 17.8kWh battery that allows it to travel up to 85km on stored electric power alone.

Mazda has cumulatively produced over 1.99 million rotary engine vehicles

This makes the manufacture of the MX-30 R-EV Mazda's first return to mass-manufacture of the rotary engine since the Mazda RX-8 was discontinued in June 2012. Mazda states that it has cumulatively produced over 1.99 million rotary engine vehicles.

The Ujina Plant No. 1 in Hiroshima is said to utilise a spray gun that precisely sprays areas where colors needs to be applied separately, allowing a reduction of pain loss thanks to precise control of the distance between the spray paint gun nozzle and the body surface.

The cars will also be sprayed with a pain that hardens at just 80 degrees Celsius instead of 140 degrees Celsius, a move that will reduce energy use and bring CO₂ emissions, Mazda states, down by close to 34%.

The cars moving off the line will additionally be charged by the plant's 1.1MW solar power system.