Mazda MX-30 BEV Outsold Chevy Bolt EUV, Nissan Ariya, Kia EV6, Subaru Soltera, and Toyota b4ZX In January

As the American automotive market enters the new year, all hopes are that 2022 will be the year that some long-hoped-for new battery-electric vehicle (BEV) crossovers will finally arrive. Kia, Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, and Chevrolet, along with the fawning EVangelist press, have all been hyping the latest and greatest green vehicles for years now. And rightly so. Each looks to be a fantastic new addition to their brands' lineups at some future point. When they finally arrive, the Soltera, EV6, b4ZX, and Ariya may all be amazing. When (if) Chevrolet can resume building the Bolt EUV we know it will be fantastic.

Related Story: 5 Reasons Mazda Is the Brand To Watch In 2022

We drove the Chevrolet Bolt EUV at a media event last summer, and it remains one of our overall favorite vehicles. However, as much as we’d like to sing these vehicles’ praises in more detail, none of them were sold to consumers this past month of January. Yet, Mazda did deliver a battery-electric vehicle crossover to consumers. Where is the applause?

Imaginary EVs Always Get the Most Press
The Mazda MX-30 is a vehicle with many positive attributes. Yet, the problem for many journalists is that it’s here. You see, with EVs, it’s always the next thing coming that earns the spotlight. Mazda’s MX-30 BEV outsold the Cybertruck in January. And the MX-30 BEV outsold the Ford F-150 Lightning. But you didn’t see any splashy reports on the MX-30. The reason is that it’s easy to pick apart a vehicle on the market you can buy today, and very hard to find flaws in a vehicle that isn't for sale. Some publications are reporting Cybertruck updates as if the vehicle actually existed to be updated. Others are arguing which imaginary EV never sold to consumers is “best.”

Pre-Orders vs. Deliveries
If you count pre-orders, the list above is wildly more successful than the Mazda MX-30. But no owners drove home a new Bolt EUV in January. No children were dropped at school in a new Subaru Soltera. No zero-emissions commutes were made on Los Angeles freeways in a Kia EV6. The Nissan Ariya didn’t take any families skiing. The Toyota bZ4X didn’t drive a newborn home from the hospital in January.

Mazda’s MX-30 Deliveries
Mazda delivered 33 MX-30 battery-electric vehicles to new owners in California in January. Surprised? It was the company’s second-quarter and second calendar year of deliveries. These 33 units were more than the combined deliveries in January of all of the Chevy Bolt EUV, Nissan Ariya, Kia EV6, Subaru Soltera, and Toyota b4ZX in America. Now into February, and with March looming, it looks as if Mazda will continue that lead, and possibly stretch it to span three consecutive sales quarters.

Tell us in the comments below which of the new BEV crossovers never sold is better than the Mazda MX-30 and why you think so. Since we may have never driven one or seen a final production version in person, your input will help us to know what we have to look forward to.

Image of production Mazda MX-30 in his driveway by John Goreham.

John Goreham is a long-time New England Motor Press Association member and recovering engineer. John's interest in EVs goes back to 1990 when he designed the thermal control system for an EV battery as part of an academic team. After earning his mechanical engineering degree, John completed a marketing program at Northeastern University and worked with automotive component manufacturers, in the semiconductor industry, and in biotech. In addition to Torque News, John's work has appeared in print in dozens of American news outlets and he provides reviews to many vehicle shopping sites. You can follow John on TikTok @ToknCars, on Twitter, and view his credentials at Linkedin

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