Subaru, Toyota and Mazda pursue carbon neutrality with new engines

Subaru Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, and Mazda Motor Corporation will develop new engines tailored to electrification.

The manufacturers aim to improve standalone engine performance while optimising integration with motors, batteries, and other electric drive units. They will also decarbonise ICE vehicles by making them compatible with carbon-neutral fuels as a result of vehicle packaging with engines that are more compact than existing ones.

The new engines will be carbon neutral as they replace fossil fuels with alternatives such as e-fuel, biofuels, and liquid hydrogen.

Koji Sato, president, member of the board of directors and CEO at Toyota Motor Corporation, said: “In order to provide our customers with diverse options to achieve carbon neutrality, it is necessary to take on the challenge of evolving engines that are in tune with the energy environment of the future.

“The three companies, which share the same aspirations, will refine engine technologies through friendly competition.”

Subaru, Toyota, and Mazda have taken customers’ diverse lifestyles into account and will develop signature engines to accommodate customer needs and preferences.

Smaller engines will allow for lower hoods, improving design possibilities and aerodynamic performance while contributing to better fuel efficiency.

Atsushi Osaki, representative director, president and CEO at Subaru Corporation, said: “Achieving a carbon-neutral society is a challenge that must be undertaken by all of Japan’s industries and society as a whole.

“As we continue to refine electrification technology, we will also enhance our horizontally-opposed engines with an aim to use carbon-neutral fuels in the future.”

Masahiro Moro, representative director, president and CEO at Mazda Motor Corporation, added: “We will continue to offer customers exciting cars by honing internal combustion engines for the electrification era and expanding the multi-pathway possibilities for achieving carbon neutrality.

“Given the rotary engine’s compatibility with electrification and carbon-neutral fuels, Mazda will continue to develop the technology through co-creation and competition to ensure it can contribute broadly to society.”