HIROSHIMA,
Japan--Mazda Motor Corporation has delivered one RX-8 Hydrogen RE vehicle
each to its first two corporate customers for this model, Idemitsu Kosan
Co., Ltd. in Tokyo, and Iwatani International Corporation in Osaka, Japan.
RX-8 Hydrogen RE cars are equipped with a rotary engine and feature a dual-fuel
system that allows the driver to select either hydrogen or gasoline with
the flick of a switch.
The vehicles that have been leased
to Mazda's first two corporate fleet customers are based on Mazda's original
body design but with specially added company decals for each customer's
use. The delivery of these vehicles for fleet use marks the world's first
case of leasing an internal combustion engine vehicle that can use both
hydrogen and gasoline as fuel.
Akihiro Kashiwagi, RX-8 Hydrogen
RE development program manager, said, "We're pleased to deliver these hydrogen
rotary engine vehicles for fleet use in these two companies, which are
participating in the Japan Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Demonstration Project
(JHFC) and are actively engaged in advancing further uses of hydrogen energy.
And we are looking forward to hearing feedback from our customers about
the cars. Mazda will continue its efforts to improve the performance of
hydrogen-fueled rotary engine vehicles and do its part to help achieve
a more environmentally friendly hydrogen energy society in the future."

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