Q&A with Steve Tomlinson, Mazda UK

Mazda has high hopes as CX-60 delivers in the premium sector

Stephen Tomlinson, Senior Manager, Head of Fleet Operations at Mazda UK, talks to Andrew Walker about global supply issues, EV concerns and the impact the company’s exciting all-new SUV, the CX-60, is having on the fleet world

COMPANY CAR & VAN: There are supply issues for most car and van manufacturers relating to a worldwide semi-conductor shortage. Has this affected the supply of any of your models, especially the CX60?

Mazda production volumes, like most manufacturers, has been impacted by worldwide events, however, throughout this situation we appear to have faired better than most.

As things stand today we are quoting standard lead times for all of our cars. Factory orders take between 12 and 20 weeks, and we have physical stock of most models which are available for immediate delivery.

In terms of the all-new Mazda CX-60 PHEV, Mazda Corporation has protected production of this car throughout the launch period and so we have good availability and sufficient confirmed production to meet expected customer demand.

CC&V: As an all-new plug-in, the CX-60 is stealing the headlines. How has it been received by SME fleets and have you seen success in the form of sales in our sector yet?

As a relatively small manufacturer in terms of market share we tend to find it takes a little time for traction to be gained following the launch of a new car. Awareness is our biggest challenge, but once the public starts to see the car on the road we see a snowball effect in terms of order take.

The great news is that our snowball is rolling and gaining size all the time, so I would urge anyone looking for a Premium PHEV SUV to take a look at the CX-60 now while availability is good.

CC&V: As more electric cars enter the market place, why should customers consider a Mazda EV or Plug-In as their next company car?

The great thing about all of the cars in the Mazda range is that the build quality, reliability and driving dynamics have always been amazing and the Kodo design language, which determines how our cars look, is multi award winning.

Anyone choosing a Mazda MX-30 or CX-60 as their next company car won’t be disappointed with how it looks, how it drives and will be delighted by the levels of standard specification, which regularly outclasses the competition.

CC&V: The Mazda corporate dealer network, will have an important part to play in helping SME’s transition from ICEs to EVs. How is Mazda helping them to do this?

Mazda UK has seven geographically located Fleet Specialist Dealers that predominantly serve the major fleets, but the entire dealer network has all of the tools to sell to SMEs regardless of whether they choose you outright purchase or lease their cars.

All dealers are trained from an aftersales

Availability on the all-new CX-60 is great at the moment, says Stephen Tomlinson – but that could change now the ‘Mazda snowball’ is rolling!

CC&V VERDICT

Lovely performance, great looks and superb interior quality: the CX-60 makes a bid for inclusion in the premium sector. When all you’ve got to criticise is clickwheel access to the infotainment, you’re on to a winner

CC&V RATING: N N N N N

perspective to be able to service and repair EVs and PHEVs and so the user experience should be excellent too.

As things stand today Mazda offers ICE, Hybrid, PHEV and BEV models, providing a multi-solution approach transportation and reducing CO2 while at the same time offering alternative powertrains to meet a multitude of customer requirements.

CC&V: What percentage of overall UK CX60 sales will be expected to come from the corporate sector, compared to the retail sector?

It is expected that half of all-new Mazda CX-60 sales will come from the corporate sector. This compares to an overall fleet mix of circa 30 per cent when all models are taken into account.

CC&V: In a recent survey about electric cars and vans, our readers’ biggest concerns were EV range anxiety and access to charging points. Based on our findings, do you think that electric is the way forward, or do your ‘plug-in-hybrid’ models, such as CX-60, have an important role to play in the transition to cleaner fleets?

Without question cars such as the CX-60 have an important role to play in the transition to cleaner fleets. In a recent survey the average daily mileage covered by Mazda owners was just 26 miles, and so cars that are capable of covering this distance on a single charge, but are also able to cover longer distances by relying on a super-efficient ICE as back-up when required, are today’s ideal solution to overcome any potential range anxiety or access to charge points issues.

An SUV star is born

The addition of the CX-60 flagship SUV to Mazda’s ranks was greeted positively, with Company Car & Van heaping praise on it for versatility and drivability...

Following on from the all-electric MX-30, the CX-60 is Mazda’s second electrified vehicle. It’s a large SUV powered by a Skyactiv-G 2.5-litre four-cylinder petrol engine paired with a 100 kW electric motor and 17.8 kWh high-capacity battery. This combination delivers a total system output of 327ps and 500Nm of torque, making it the most powerful road car Mazda has ever built. Prices start at £43,950. For that you get features Mazda’s 12.3” infotainment system with Bluetooth, DAB, Apple Car Play and Android Auto and a 12.3” digital dash. You also get Adaptive Cruise Control with Traffic Sign recognition, push button start, keyless entry, dual-zone climate control, heated and ventilated seats, a heated steering wheel and a heated leather steering wheel.

Looks-wise, it’s more rounded and features smoother lines than either the BMW X3 or Audi Q5. Quality is excellent and should help Mazda make its hoped-for inroads into the premium sector. Soft touch plastics adorn all visible surfaces and all the finishing is excellent, as is the seat fabric and instrumentation. Boot space is a generous at 570 litres, with 1,726 with rear seats folded.

On the road

With a WLTP combined fuel consumption of 188mpg and CO2 emissions of only 33g/ km, the plug-in CX-60 makes a strong case as a company car. Add in the 12% BIK, 2.5 hour charging time on a home 7 kWh charger and its 39-mile pure electric range, and the case gets stronger. Utilise your home smart charger at night when rates are lower and you’ll fully charge your CX-60 up for just £1.50 per night.

The good news is that despite the extra weight of the battery, the CX-60 makes a really good fist of hiding the weight. Over smooth surfaces, it rides excellently, it’s agile, with well-weighted steering and body control that’s impressive for a car weighing 2140kgs. Performance is never in question. Put your foot down to overtake and the 270Nm of torque brings swift overtaking. The 2.5-litre petrol engine sounds a little coarse when revved, but perhaps that’s a good thing, reminding the driver that there is a petrol engine there after all.

Overall, a stunning entry and one that propels Mazda into the company of the premium manufacturers.