Mazda’s R&D head has said the company will keep developing diesel engines in the future, two days after fellow Japanese carmaker Nissan was reported to have dropped the fuel to focus on hybrids and electric vehicles (EVs).

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Kiyoshi Fujiwara, Mazda’s senior executive officer in charge of R&D, called the diesel engine the “company’s strength,” adding there was “no reason” for Mazda to stop its development.

Go deeper with GlobalData

Data Insights

The gold standard of business intelligence.

Find out more

“Sport utility vehicles have become best sellers, and the benefits of diesel become more apparent with heavier vehicles,” he said.

In a jibe to Tesla’s chief executive, he added: “Consumers won’t buy EVs just because of Elon Musk.”

Fujiwara’s words came shortly after the Nikkei Asian Review reported on Monday that Nissan was dropping development of diesel engines, stopping diesel powertrain production altogether at some point in the 2020s.

This would make Nissan the latest in a line of carmakers which have declared or been reported to be moving away from diesel. They include Fiat Chrysler, Volvo, Subaru and Nissan partner Renault.

How well do you really know your competitors?

Access the most comprehensive Company Profiles on the market, powered by GlobalData. Save hours of research. Gain competitive edge.

Company Profile – free sample

Thank you!

Your download email will arrive shortly

Not ready to buy yet? Download a free sample

We are confident about the unique quality of our Company Profiles. However, we want you to make the most beneficial decision for your business, so we offer a free sample that you can download by submitting the below form

By GlobalData
Visit our Privacy Policy for more information about our services, how we may use, process and share your personal data, including information of your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications. Our services are intended for corporate subscribers and you warrant that the email address submitted is your corporate email address.

By contrast, Mazda, which plans to introduce EVs in 2019 to compete with market leaders Toyota and Nissan, said last year it expected the internal combustion engine to “power the majority of cars worldwide for many years to come”.

Mazda UK has a partnership in place with Santander Consumer Finance, which includes PCH in its offer.

Additionally, the carmaker recently entered a collaboration for retail and commercial leasing with Societe Generale’s ADL in the Netherlands.