Over 90% SU-LEVs

Mazda is launching car models that meet the standards set under the Japan Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport's Emissions Gas Approval System. We are working to extend our adherence to the Super Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (SU-LEV) emissions level (vehicles with at least 75% lower emissions than the 2005 Automotive Exhaust Gas Regulations standard level), which is currently the most stringent exhaust emissions standard in Japan.

Excluding vehicles sourced from other original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), SU-LEVs comprised 90.5% of the passenger vehicles Mazda produced in FY2006 for sale in Japan. This figure is among one of the highest of any automobile manufacturer in Japan.

Mazda has also developed the DISI* turbo engine, which boasts high environmental performance despite being turbocharged. The Mazdaspeed Atenza (Mazdaspeed6) - launched in 2005 - was the first DISI turbocharged vehicle to receive SU-LEV certification.

* DISI: Direct Injection Spark Ignition

Meeting Exhaust Gas Regulations in Europe and the United States

Mazda has developed and launched a clean diesel engine in Europe. Although diesel engines have previously been plagued by nitrous oxide (NOx) and particulate matter emissions, the new engine has reduced such emissions and passed the Euro 4 automotive exhaust gas regulations - which went into effect in Europe in 2005 - by a wide margin.

In the United States, all Mazda models introduced in FY2006 meet the nation's stringent Tier2/LEV2 exhaust gas regulations.

Developing Clean Diesel Vehicles

Although diesel engines consume less fuel and emit less CO₂ than gasoline engines, the tradeoff has been higher nitrous oxide (NOx) and particulate matter emissions. However, new emissions reduction technologies have led to increased use of diesel engines in environmentally friendly vehicles in recent years, particularly in Europe.

Mazda has commercialized clean diesel vehicles that handily pass Europe's Euro 4 automotive exhaust gas regulations by employing common-rail direct-injection turbo diesel engines (MZR-CD) that burn fuel efficiently, in addition to diesel particulate filters (DPF) - which trap particulate matter - and other exhaust treatment technologies. Such engines are used in the Mazda3 (Japanese name: Axela), Mazda5 (Japanese name: Premacy) and the Mazda6 (Japanese name: Atenza). Our domestic commercial vehicles - Bongo, Bongo Brawny - also have these engines.

In May 2007, staff at Mazda's Technical Research Center received the Asahara Science Promotion Award from the Society of Automotive Engineers of Japan, Inc. (JSAE). This award is given to JSAE members under the age of 37 to promote the improvement and advancement of automotive engineering and technology.

Diesel engines tend to emit more NOx and particulate matter than gasoline engines. To reduce these emissions, research up to now has focused on how to reduce particulate matter emissions during combustion. However, this method results in incomplete combustion, which lowers fuel economy. The diesel engine combustion efficiency enhancement research for which the above award was granted approaches the problem from a different vantage point. The new research succeeds in limiting incomplete combustion, increasing fuel economy and significantly reducing NOx and particulate matter emissions, by completely burning all particulate matter emitted during the initial combustion process. This research shows promise as a leading technology for tomorrow's clean-diesel passenger vehicles.

Mazda also received JSAE's Technology Development Award for developing and commercializing environmentally friendly paints.