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

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, 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."

Main specifications of the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid

Base model           Mazda Premacy 
Overall length       4595 mm 
Overall width        1745 mm 
Overall height       1620 mm 
Base engine          Mazda Hydrogen rotary engine (with dual-fuel
system) 
Motor                Alternating current synchronous motor 
Maximum output       110 kW 
Generator            Alternating current synchronous generator 
Battery              Lithium ion (Li-ion) 
Seating capacity     Five passengers 
Fuel                 Hydrogen and gasoline 
Hydrogen tank        35 MPa high-pressure tank 

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 

For more information on the Mazda Premacy Hydrogen RE Hybrid, visit: http://www.mazda.com/premacy

[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.

Mazda Motor Corporation

Mazda Motor Corporation started manufacturing tools in 1929 and soon branched out into production of trucks for commercial use. In the early 1960s, Mazda launched its first passenger car models and began developing rotary engines. Still headquartered in Hiroshima in western Japan, Mazda today ranks as one of Japan's leading automakers, and exports cars to the United States and Europe for over 30 years. For more information, please visit www.mazda.com .