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2020 Mazda CX-5 diesel is still, and perhaps forever, MIA

Halfway through 2020, the most recent Mazda CX-5 diesel you can find anywhere in the U.S. is a 2019 model year — the only one offered so far. With automaker factories beginning their model-year turnovers shortly, CarsDirect did some poking around as to the fate of an oil-burning 2020 CX-5. The outlet couldn't get definitive answers, but a host of secondary evidence suggests the diesel crossover will skip this year, naturally leading to the question of whether the model will skip this market from now on.  Asked in April about the crossover's fate or its arrival, Mazda would only say that "with the current state of the world, many things are tentative." The following month, the automaker's early fleet ordering guide pegged this month as marking the end of CX-5 production, 2021MY crossovers starting down lines in August. Mazda had nothing to say about that information, either. When CarsDirect got in touch again for this latest report, Mazda professed the delay has nothing to do with emissions certification. Then the wall went up again, the only other comment being, "We cannot confirm any details for the CX-5 Diesel at this time."    We're speculating, but at this point, even if Mazda could get 2020MY CX-5 diesels on the lot, why should the automaker bother? The challenges for diesel in general, and this expression of diesel particularly, are clear to everyone; our last post on the CUV, six months ago, was about the five-figure discounts dealers were offering. A quick check on Autotrader at the time of writing shows 45 examples of the 2019 CX-5 diesel available nationwide, plenty of them still priced in the low- to mid-thirties. On Autotrader Canada, which specifies vehicle availability beyond the "1,000+ Results" on the American site, there are 6,135 CX-5s listed nationwide, only 58 of them diesel. Canadian outlet Motor Illustrated wrote, "Mazda recently told us they had a lot of Mercedes-Benz GLE diesel owners and other diesel fans with upscale models trade for a CX-5 diesel." Apparently luxury diesel crossover conquest buyers aren't numerous enough to support a model line. The gasoline versions of the 2020 Mazda CX-5 launched in November last year. It shouldn't take that long for us to find out about the fate of the 2020 CX-5 diesel, or if there will be a 2021 model. Related Video:    

Rumored Mazda CX-3 may not be for US

Mazda has used its Kodo design language to make some of the most attractive, affordable cars in the world right now, with the Mazda3, Mazda6 and CX-5 (pictured above), but it still lacks a crossover in the smaller class, which are becoming popular on the world market. It seems like a natural fit then, that the Japanese company would shrink its CUV design even smaller for a CX-3 to fill the gap. However, a rumor suggests that the compact might not make it to these shores.
The Mazda2-based crossover is due later this summer in Japan and is launching in Europe and emerging markets later, according to Automotive News citing a report in Japan's Nikkei newspaper. The little CUV would cost between 1.5 million yen and 2.0 million yen ($14,700-$19,500) in Japan and be available with diesel and petrol engine options. However, the report made no mention of selling it in North America. There is a glimmer of a chance for the CX-3 here. Mazda is upgrading its Mexican factory to 230,000 annual unit capacity by 2016, which gives it the room to add the new vehicle.
While the midsize CUVs are hugely popular in the US, compacts like the Buick Encore are still a small portion of things. If Mazda could time the CX-3's launch right here, it could take advantage of the lack of competition.

Mazda announces Takata expansion in US to 472k vehicles [UPDATE]

Update: Mazda is revising the total number of vehicles affected by its Takata airbag inflator recall downward to 464,684 units, compared to the original NHTSA documents showing 472,056. According to Mazda Public Affairs Manager Tamara Mlynarczyk to Autoblog, "It is my understanding that Mazda Japan will be submitting a revised Part 573 on Monday that reflects our numbers." The company's official statement on the recall is now included below. Mazda is the latest automaker in the US to officially announce the details of its expanded Takata airbag inflator recall. The company is broadening its campaign to cover a total of 472,056 vehicles. Mazda's airbag inflator recall covers now the front driver's side for the 2003-2008 Mazda6 produced between May 29, 2002, and May 5, 2008, the 2004-2008 Mazda RX-8 from between April 10, 2003, and February 18, 2008, and the 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 made between August 4, 2005, and June 29, 2007. Among these three models there are 444,907 units affected. This is an expansion from of the previous total of about 330,000 examples from 2004-2008. The passenger-side airbag of the 2004-2006 B-Series pickup is also being recalled for those with build dates between April 17, 2003, and May 2, 2006. There are 27,149 of these vehicles in need of replacement parts. Takata's airbag inflator recalls have affected 34 million vehicles nationwide from 11 automakers. In a recent hearing before Congress, Takata said it was producing 740,000 replacement kits a month and hoped to grow that to a million. Other suppliers have also started making the parts. Related Video: RECALL Subject : Driver's Frontal Air Bag May Rupture Report Receipt Date: JUN 04, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V345000 Component(s): AIR BAGS Potential Number of Units Affected: 444,907 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle Make Model Model Year(s) MAZDA MAZDA6 2003-2008 MAZDA MAZDASPEED6 2006-2007 MAZDA RX-8 2004-2008 Details Manufacturer: Mazda North American Operations SUMMARY: Mazda North American Operations (Mazda) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Mazda6 vehicles manufactured May 29, 2002, to May 5, 2008, 2004-2008 RX-8 vehicles manufactured April 10, 2003, to February 18, 2008, and 2006-2007 Mazdaspeed6 vehicles manufactured August 4, 2005, to June 29, 2007.