Mazda's North American CEO has confirmed that there's still a chance the Mazda MX-30 R-EV will make it to America. Automotive News (AN) reports that while the US is not a core market for the rotary range extender, it is still in the cards.

Unveiled last month, the rotary engine in the MX-30 is a range extender of sorts; a single-rotor Wankel engine lives under the hood, but instead of powering the wheels, it functions as a generator and powers the electric motor. At launch, there was no word on whether this version would make it to our shores Jeff Guyton indicates there's a good chance it may hit our roads.

"MX-30 has been selling quite well in Europe, and we're going to prioritize MX-30 rotary for Europe and for Japan where the product is more suited to the roads and those customers. It doesn't mean it's a no for the US," he said to AN.

Despite a classy interior and funky exterior styling, the electric Mazda has performed poorly. Only sold in California, the electric MX-30 boasts a dismal claimed range of 100 miles - not much when you're forking over $34,110. Cheaper EVs like the Mini Cooper Electric (114 miles) and the Chevrolet Bolt (259 miles) boast greater range and a slew of incoming crossovers all claim in excess of 200 miles.

A few years back, a Mazda spokesperson said the MX-30 would eventually be sold across the country. This is yet to happen. The company official also hinted at the arrival of a rotary-engined model at the time, leading us to believe it may eventually reach America.

It would make perfect sense for the automaker to offer this vehicle in the states. After all, the US is a vast country and a 100-mile range is simply not enough. But a range extender variant would let you handle your city commute on electric juice and then complete longer trips aided by gasoline.

Mazda lost favor with fans when it essentially took the stance that if you want an EV, it has to be a secondary household car, which in tough economical climates is akin to Mary Antoinette's "Let them eat cake." The MX-30 is a poor excuse for an EV when more than 200 miles range is easily attainable at affordable prices. If the MX-30 is to succeed, the range extender must be launched in the US.

Rob Meyer, a Mazda retailer and chairman of the Mazda National Dealer Advisory Council, said the market will dictate how well the rotary-powered Mazda does. "When Mazda launched the MX-30 and laid out their plan, at one point it did include bringing the range extender here ... all indicators say it'll do pretty well in Europe, and that'll just help cascade it here," he added.

However, if the MX-30 R-EV does make it to the United States, it won't be anytime soon. Guyton said that, as part of the company's new strategy, Mazda will supply vehicles that match their respective markets. In the case of America, that would be the new CX-90, a three-row SUV with plenty of style and luxury.

The CX-90 is also available as a plug-in hybrid, mating a 2.5-liter engine with an electric motor for combined outputs of 323 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque.