Mazda mulls alliance with Ford for electric devices

Mazda Motor Corp., Japan's second- largest auto exporter, is considering forming an alliance with Ford Motor Co. and other carmakers to develop electric devices that boost fuel efficiency.

"There is a possibility to form an alliance with Ford and others," Seita Kanai, senior managing executive officer in charge of development, said at a press conference in Tokyo today.

Mazda, 13.8 percent owned by Ford, will continue its partnership with the U.S. automaker and share vehicle platforms, the Japanese carmaker's President Takashi Yamanouchi said. Mazda will keep up spending on research and development on new models and engine technology, notwithstanding the global recession that has cut demand for new vehicles, The Hiroshima-based carmaker said in April.

The company aims to boost the fuel efficiency of its models 30 percent by 2015, and develop "electrical device solutions" and a new Mazda hybrid, said Yamanouchi, said in April.

Dearborn, Michigan-based Ford reduced its stake in Mazda last November.