The Market Has Spoken
Mazda is delaying its first electric vehicle until 2029, but the brand has made an aggressive bet on hybrid technology. The numbers support this decision; the share of hybrids has gone from 3.1 percent to 16.3 percent in the last five years alone, according to a report from S&P Global. With the federal tax credits having expired, EV sales dropped significantly for almost all brands, and it’s clear that Americans are choosing hybrids over electric vehicles now.
What’s more telling is that the share of previous EV owners jumping ship to new hybrid vehicles has doubled in the last three years. Buyers are looking for electrification, but not just pure battery electric vehicles just yet.
Mazda
Mazda's Current Hybrid Lineup
Mazda currently offers three hybrid models in the United States. The CX-50 Hybrid uses a Toyota-sourced hybrid system and provides excellent fuel efficiency in Mazda's most popular crossover. The larger CX-70 and CX-90 both offer plug-in hybrid systems and provide electric-only range for daily driving, along with gasoline backup for long trips.
But Mazda is preparing to take hybrids seriously with its own in-house system. For 2027, Mazda will begin offering a proprietary four-cylinder hybrid system in the CX-5. Because the CX-5 is Mazda's best-seller, this could dramatically boost Mazda's hybrid sales numbers. This is a calculated move that places hybrid technology where it can sell the most volume, rather than pursuing electric vehicle dreams that aren’t aligning with reality.
Why Hybrids Win Right Now
The economics tell the story. The average price for a new hybrid vehicle hovers around $33,255, making them accessible to regular buyers. Compare that to EVs, where average sticker prices increased to $58,034 in December 2025, and it's obvious why hybrids are winning.
Hybrids also solve the infrastructure problems associated with EVs. There’s no range anxiety or waiting at charging stations. According to Toyota, 47% of its full-year 2025 volume was electrified, and the large majority of those were hybrid vehicles, not EVs. That is the same path Mazda wants to follow: providing customers with electrified options that customers can use every day, without compromise. Sometimes, reading the room is the smartest thing to do.
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