OREANDA-NEWS. Mazda Motor Corporation has announced that in the Energy Conservation Grand Prize for excellent energy conservation equipment fiscal year ending March 2014, Mazda's SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY has received the Minister Prize of Economic, Trade and Industry (Product and Business Model Category), and the company's Aqua-tech Paint System has been awarded the Director General Prize of Agency of Natural Resources and Energy (Exemplary Energy Conservation Category).

The Energy Conservation Grand Prize for excellent energy conservation equipment is awarded by the Energy Conservation Center, Japan, with the assistance of Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry. It recognizes outstanding energy-conservation activities and cutting-edge energy-efficient products. The aim of the awards is to raise awareness about energy conservation efforts and promote the use of energy-saving products. The program has recognized many outstanding products and activities to date, with the Minister Prize being the highest honor among the Energy Conservation Grand Prize accolades.

SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, which received the Minister Prize of Economic, Trade and Industry (Product and Business Model category), refers to Mazda's unique and innovative next- generation technologies that were designed and developed to realize a harmonious balance between driving pleasure and excellent environmental and safety performance.

The Aqua-tech Paint System, which won the Director General Prize of Agency of Natural Resources and Energy (Exemplary Energy Conservation category), is a paint technology developed with the aim of reducing the environmental impact of the vehicle painting process. Introduced in 2009, it is one of the world's most eco-friendly vehicle painting systems, with world-class low-level emissions of CO2 and volatile organic compounds (VOC).

The award ceremony will be held on January 29 at the ENEX2014 exhibition at Tokyo Big Sight. SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and the Aqua-tech Paint System will be on display and Mazda will make a presentation on both technologies at the venue.