3 weeks ago
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An electric car could soon be part of the Mazda Australia stable, again, as a business case is being built to bring the Changan-underpinned 6e sedan to local showrooms.
Electric Cars
Mazda Australia has confirmed the 6e electric sedan is under consideration for local-market consumption, with a business case being worked on that will determine whether the Chinese-made electric vehicle (EV) will be offered Down Under.
Speaking to Drive, Mazda Australia boss Vinesh Bhindi said the 6e, fully revealed as the EZ-6 at the 2024 Beijing Motor Show, needed to be available in right-hand-drive markets before the local division would consider it.
“We are building a business case for a Mazda 6e because, well, two things need to happen,” Bhindi said.
“One, they need to be available for overseas markets [first], and secondly, it needs to have a right-hand-drive option.
“For Mazda 6e, both those are ticks.
“So, now, we're building a business case and evaluating whether that's right for us.”
The Mazda 6e is built in conjunction with China’s Changan, and shares the same EPA1 platform as the Deepal S07 mid-size SUV sold in Australia, as well as the EZ-60 high-rider.
In Europe, the 6e features an 80kWh battery, with a WLTP-certified driving range of 552km, while its single, rear-drive electric motor pumps out 180kW/320Nm.
In China, the EZ-6 is also offered as range-extender electric vehicle, which uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine in conjunction with either an 18.9kWh or 28.4kWh battery.
However, as an all-electric successor to the Mazda 6 sedan that was discontinued earlier this year for missing crucial safety equipment mandated by Australia and slowing sales, the 6e might not be the sales winner the brand is hoping for.
With the market switching its preference from passenger cars like sedans to high-riding SUVs, the EZ-60 – rumoured to be rechristened CX-6e for the European market – would be a much more natural fit, but Bhindi said it is still too soon to comment.
“At this stage, that car [EZ-60] has only been showcased in China for China, so the first two ticks haven't been achieved,” Bhindi said.
“If it does, and if it ticks those two boxes, then of course, then it opens up that opportunity for us to consider.
“I love sedans, but it's reflective of the market, and it's not unique to Australia.
“It's a global trend that people are preferring SUV, but saying that there's a Mazda 6e, and if we are successful in convincing that that's the right product, and we have a business case, there's a chance.”
The EZ-6, or CX-6e, shares the same powertrain and high-voltage components as the 6e, but expect less range out of the heavier, and less aerodynamic efficient SUV.
As to when a decision on the 6e will be reached, Bhindi said an announcement should be made in the next six months.
“Hopefully within this year, if not early next year,” Bhindi said.
“But anything can change that time frame.”
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Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
