The company’s trademark engine, which was supposed to appear in a plug-in hybrid version of its MX-30 crossover, is said to be encountering problems surrounding costs. Japan’s Nikkei (via Automotive News) says a rotary engine generator will require a bigger battery that would make the vehicle too expensive.

The rotary range-extender version of the MX-30 was slated to debut globally in the first half of 2022, with an eye to the U.S. and Europe.

The MX-30 with its “freestyle doors” was designed to accommodate a range of drivetrains. It was introduced as Mazda’s first mass-produced EV. It was then followed with a mild-hybrid version as well.

The all-electric MX-30 for Europe and Japan uses a relatively small 35.5-kWh lithium-ion battery—smaller than even the Nissan LEAF—paired to a 105-kW (143 horsepower) electric motor. In Europe, its range is rated at 200 kilometers.

Mazda designed the MX-30 with a small battery taking into account the emissions required to produce the lithium-ion battery on a “well-to-wheel” basis. Its limited range meant it’s marketed as a “your best second car” in Europe.