Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid Gains Government Approval to Begin Public Road Testing in Japan

Hybrid system enhances power by 40 percent and doubles hydrogen fuel range to 200 km

HIROSHIMA, Japan - June 20, 2008:

Mazda Motor Corporation today received permission from Japan’s Ministry of Land Infrastructure and Transport (MLIT) to test the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid minivan on public roads. Mazda’s newest hydrogen rotary engine vehicle features a hybrid system that increases the vehicle’s power by 40 percent and doubles the hydrogen fuel range to 200 kilometers. Mazda aims to complete the road trials and start commercial leasing in Japan during fiscal year 2008. The Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid is the world’s first hydrogen hybrid car with a dual-fuel system that enables the car to run on either hydrogen or gasoline.

Separately, Mazda has also announced that it will display and demonstrate its hydrogen rotary vehicles at the G8 Hokkaido Toyako Summit in July 2008. The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid will debut alongside the previously released RX-8 Hydrogen RE at the summit’s Environmental Showcase*1.

Akihiro Kashiwagi, Mazda’s program manager in charge of hydrogen RE development, said, “We are committed to improving the performance of our hydrogen rotary engine vehicles to help promote a more eco-friendly place for the automobile in society. Getting permission from the transportation authorities in Japan to begin public road testing the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid in time for the Hokkaido Toyako Summit is extremely significant, because the eyes of the world will be focused on Japan’s environmental technologies. Going forward, we will continue to advance our development program and strive to start commercial leasing during this fiscal year.”

The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid incorporates the acclaimed dual-fuel system*2 from the RX-8 Hydrogen RE, which became the world’s first commercially available hydrogen rotary engine vehicle in 2006. The Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid also features a hybrid system that combines an electric motor with Mazda’s hydrogen rotary engine to realize significantly enhanced performance. Mazda’s other environmental technologies showcased on the vehicle include “Mazda Biotechmaterials.” Used for some of the vehicle’s interior plastic parts and seat covers, these plant-derived materials contribute to reduced CO2 emissions.

Under its Sustainable Zoom-Zoom environmental plan, Mazda is dedicated to pursuing harmony between driving pleasure and environmental and safety features, while working toward an advanced Zoom-Zoom future by developing vehicles that “look inviting to drive, are fun to drive, and make you want to drive again.”

*1 The Environmental Showcase is an exhibition and demonstration of Japan’s latest environmental and energy-saving technologies that will be held at the International Media Center for journalists covering the Hokkaido Toyako Summit.

*2 The dual-fuel system allows the driver to select either hydrogen or gasoline fuel with the push of a button.

History of Mazda’s hydrogen vehicle development

1991 Developed first hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, HR-X

1992 Conducted test drive of golf cart equipped with fuel cell

1993 Developed second hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, HR-X2 Developed MX-5 test vehicle equipped with hydrogen rotary engine

1995 Conducted Japan’s first public road tests of a hydrogen rotary engine vehicle, the Capella Cargo.

1997 Developed Demio FC-EV 2001 Developed Premacy FC-EV, conducted first public road test in Japan (Methanol reforming fuel cell system)

2003 Announced RX-8 hydrogen rotary engine development

2004 Received MLIT approval for public road testing of RX-8 Hydrogen RE

2006 Started commercial leasing of the RX-8 Hydrogen RE in Japan

2007 Signed agreement to provide 30 RX-8 Hydrogen REs to Hynor, a Norwegian national project

2008 Received MLIT approval for public road testing of the Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid