As you remember we have a range-extender unit provided by rotary engine, that system can help with some distance. Japanese automaker , Toyota , has U - turned on its electric vehicles ( EV ) stance and now intends to launch a plug - in EV by 2019 , as the company anticipates that EVs will make up 5 - 10 % of the market by 2020 . Mazda division head , Kiyoshi Fujiwara said : " we are focusing on ICE , but some regions we need EV " . It is expected that Mazda , as a smaller operator with less than $ 40bn in global revenue , could partner with Toyota to co - develop a model based on its ICE platform , with Fujiwara exploring the possibility of using a rotary engine range - extender platform .
Japanese automaker , Toyota , has U - turned on its electric vehicles ( EV ) stance and now intends to launch a plug - in EV by 2019 , as the company anticipates that EVs will make up 5 - 10 % of the market by 2020 . Mazda division head , Kiyoshi Fujiwara said : " we are focusing on ICE , but some regions we need EV " . It is expected that Mazda , as a smaller operator with less than $ 40bn in global revenue , could partner with Toyota to co - develop a model based on its ICE platform , with Fujiwara exploring the possibility of using a rotary engine range - extender platform .