Mazda 6e firming for Australian release, CX-6e electric SUV likely to follow
Mazda Australia is finalising a industrial case to launch the 6e electric sedan within the neighborhood, following a successful push from Mazda UK to stable lawful-hand-drive (RHD) manufacturing acclaim for the Chinese-built Tesla Mannequin 3 rival.
Mazda UK is also understood to be lobbying for RHD manufacturing of the closely connected CX-6e electric midsize SUV—a Tesla Mannequin Y-sized crossover that points prominently on Mazda Australia’s local favor list.
Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi acknowledged the impress had been slack to ship mainstream EVs to Australia, nonetheless acknowledged it recognises that “six or seven percent” of local traders are genuinely procuring battery electric vehicles (BEVs), with the re-elected Albanese govt signalling BEVs would possibly perchance perchance also fabricate up an even bigger share of future gross sales.
“With the RHD Mazda 6e being confirmed, we maintain to make a selection up our skates on and make the fitting industrial case,” Bhindi advised media.
“[It isn’t] a performed deal, nonetheless the manner we scrutinize at it is that Mazda Australia offers the [greatest] amount of objects – as many as we can – whilst you scrutinize on the worldwide portfolio and we don’t are searching to desert that technique.
“Secondly, with the Modern Vehicle Effectivity Long-established [laws now in effect], if the govt. is admittedly definite to lower our carbon footprint from Australia, I will handiest quiz they are able to journey stronger and tougher towards BEVs…so Mazda will provide that, if we can.”
Whereas the 6e sedan is the closer of the two vehicles to local affirmation, the CX-6e is following closely within the help of. Each and each EVs are expected to be priced to generate sufficient volume to positively affect Mazda’s Australian fast reasonable emissions below NVES.
“We all favor [the CX-6e], so if it becomes on hand, we would possibly perchance well be soliciting for it,” acknowledged Mazda Australia national manager of product and industrial technique Daniel Wakelam. “The industrial case [for CX-6e] will likely be a microscopic simpler. On legend of it’s a medium SUV, it is dazzling easy.”
Mazda 6e electric sedan expected to land in Australia first
Co-developed with Chinese three device partnership accomplice Changan, the 6e was once published in April 2024 and confirmed for European gross sales—including RHD manufacturing for the UK—in early 2025. Measuring 4921mm long and 1890mm wide, the fastback-model sedan is around 50mm longer, 50mm wider and 40mm taller than the outgoing petrol-powered Mazda 6.
Essentially based mostly entirely on Changan’s EVA1 platform, which also underpins Deepal vehicles, the Mazda 6e is rear-wheel drive, with outputs of 180kW and 320Nm. Two batteries are on hand globally: a 66.0kWh (usable) lithium iron phosphate (LFP) pack rated for 479km vary, and a 75.0kWh (usable) nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) unit claiming 552km of WLTP vary.
Each and each batteries fortify 11kW AC charging, nonetheless a essential quirk is that the smaller LFP pack enables vastly faster DC charging – promising 200kW peak and 126kW reasonable from 10–80 percent in 23 minutes.
By comparison, the NMC battery is proscribed to a 95kW peak (averaging 70kW over the identical window), ensuing in a long 47-minute cost time.
The 6e offers gloomy or tan interiors, with points including a 14.6-jog touchscreen, 14-speaker Sony sound machine, 50-jog augmented actuality head-up order, and nil-gravity front seats.
Boot condo measures 330 litres, supplemented by a 70-litre frunk. A liftback structure has been published, with no wagon variant confirmed at this stage.
To boot to the two BEV variants, a petrol-electric vary extender model of the 6e is also equipped in China. It pairs a 70kW 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine performing as a generator with both an 18.9kWh or 28.4kWh battery, delivering 105km or 160km of EV vary and greater than 1000km of blended driving vary.
Bhindi confirmed that handiest the BEV variations of the 6e are integrated in Mazda Australia’s most popular industrial case, though the local distributor would possibly perchance perchance also “doubtlessly enlarge” the lineup to embrace the vary extender model if curiosity arises.
Mazda Australia EV industrial case to be submitted to Japan almost as we express
Mazda Australia’s product boss Daniel Wakelam equipped Chasing Autos with further detail on the industrial case assignment for the 6e.
“Right here’s a terribly distorted segment on legend of Tesla Mannequin 3 [sales] are hugely distorting it. Which will likely be a special case. We’re no longer going to [sell] 25,000 6es, like they [sell Model 3s],” acknowledged Wakelam.
“To select up the[6e] program proper by the toll road with Japan, now we maintain to attain up with a industrial case. That’s what we place to them—we can sell this many vehicles, and fabricate this extraordinary profit.”
Tesla delivered 17,094 Mannequin 3 sedans in Australia in 2024, when in contrast with 15,401 Toyota Camrys and appropriate 1354 Mazda 6s, which is now discontinued. Other essential ends within the segment integrated two BEVs: the BYD Seal (6393) and BMW i4 (2062).
“The UK are determined for the [6e] so that they did the heavy lifting,” Wakelam published. “They got the [RHD] advertising strategy licensed. As soon as RHD is on hand, it makes it simpler [to bring it to Australia].
“EVs are also simpler than ICE vehicles on legend of there isn’t very any longer any emissions test that must be performed. It brings the associated price down, and device there would possibly perchance be much less uncommon investment for [ADR] compliance than what one other vehicles would maintain.”
CX-6e SUV likely to put collectively Mazda 6e to Australia
Unveiled on the 2025 Shanghai motor express their own praises and badged EZ-60 in China, the CX-6e is a midsize SUV sibling to the 6e. Its crossover body model is likely to generate stronger volume in Australia and Europe. Whereas RHD manufacturing has no longer but been confirmed, there are usually no longer any known technical impediments to building the CX-6e in lawful-hand drive.
Measuring 4850mm, the CX-6e would take a seat above the CX-5 and CX-60 in Mazda Australia’s SUV vary. Globally, this can back as Mazda’s core electric SUV whereas the firm works on its in-condo EV architecture, with unique objects expected to emerge from 2028 onwards. Until then, Changan-developed objects will act as a transitional EV offering.
The CX-6e’s exterior and interior bear are idea to be a half-technology ahead of the 6e, showcasing what Mazda calls “next-technology Kodo bear”. Form highlights embrace LED perimeter lighting around the grille, a coupe-model roofline, and a 26-jog split-show masks order that enables separate use by the motive force and front passenger.
Other tech points embrace a 3D digital heads-up order, 23-speaker stereo with headrest-mounted speakers, and digital facet mirrors.
The Shanghai debut of the CX-6e focussed on a vary extender model, combining a 1.5-litre engine with a 31.7kWh battery to ship a claimed 128km of electric-handiest vary and greater than 1000km of full vary. Blended outputs are rated at 190kW.
As with the 6e, it’s likely UK product planners will lead the push for RHD manufacturing of the CX-6e. Whereas full necessary points of the BEV model remain below wraps, it is expected to use the identical LFP and NMC batteries because the 6e, paired to both 160kW or 175kW motors.
WLTP vary estimates are tipped to fall between 400 and 500km.
Wakelam agreed the UK was once likely to already be advocating for RHD manufacturing of the CX-6e, and advised the SUV would possibly perchance perchance also land in Australia at a more affordable designate than the 6e because of larger expected volume—delivering a more mountainous affect on Mazda’s fast emissions reasonable below NVES.
“The price structure is more difficult on legend of we’re in a partnership with one other impress [Changan]. They’re on a the same platform anyway, the imperfect automobile would possibly perchance perchance also very successfully be very the same, the batteries are the identical, the motors are doubtlessly the identical—it is mostly the sheetmetal that is uncommon,” Wakelam acknowledged.
Source credit : chasingcars.com.au
