Mazda 6e, CX-6e under review for Australia

MAZDA AUSTRALIA is preparing to submit a formal business case to its Japanese parent company to secure the local introduction of the 6e electric sedan, following confirmation of right-hand-drive (RHD) production for the model.

The mid-size electric sedan, which was co-developed with long-time Chinese joint-venture partner Changan, was revealed in April 2024 and confirmed for European markets—including the United Kingdom—in early 2025. The approval of RHD production for the UK is now seen as a catalyst for Australian availability.

"With the RHD Mazda 6e being confirmed, we need to get our skates on and build the appropriate business case," Mazda Australia (MA) managing director Vinesh Bhindi told media.

"(It isn’t) a done deal, but the way we look at it is that MA offers the (greatest) amount of models when you look at the global portfolio, and we don’t want to abandon that strategy.

“Hybrid tech, plug-in hybrid tech and full battery EV is the focus (for Mazda)—not just pure internal combustion (ICE). We will offer as much choice as we can. (In Australia) there are early adopters, six to seven per cent of consumers, saying that BEV is tech they would like to embrace, so Mazda will offer that, if we can.”

Mazda UK is believed to be working to secure RHD availability of the closely related CX-6e—a midsize electric SUV that shares its platform and batteries with the 6e, and is a crossover alternative to the Tesla Model Y. The CX-6e sits high on MA’s wish list and is considered a particularly viable model for local sale.

"We all want (the CX-6e), so if it becomes available, we will be asking for it," said MA national manager of product and business strategy Daniel Wakelam. "The business case (for CX-6e) will be a bit easier. Because it’s a medium SUV, it is pretty straightforward."

Mr Bhindi acknowledged that but indicated that rising consumer interest and an additional measure of regulatory certainty following the re-election of the Albanese federal government were influencing Mazda’s EV strategy.

"With the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (laws now in effect), if the government is really determined to reduce our carbon footprint from Australia, I can only expect they will go stronger and harder towards BEVs," Mr Bhindi said.

Technical specifications for the 6e place the sedan on Changan’s EVA1 electric vehicle platform, which also underpins Deepal models. Measuring 4921mm in length and 1890mm in width, the vehicle is approximately 50mm larger in each direction than the now-discontinued petrol-powered Mazda 6.

The 6e is rear-wheel drive, and develops outputs of 180kW and 320Nm. Two batteries are offered: a 66.0kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) unit with 479km range, and a 75.0kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) unit delivering 552km under WLTP protocols.

Charging capabilities vary by pack, with both supporting 11kW AC input. The smaller LFP battery can achieve 200kW peak and 126kW average DC charging from 10 to 80 per cent in just 23 minutes. In contrast, the NMC battery peaks at 95kW and averages 70kW, requiring 47 minutes for the same charging window.

Interior appointments for the 6e include black or tan leather, a 14.6-inch central touchscreen, 14-speaker Sony sound system, and an augmented reality head-up display. Cargo capacity is listed at 330 litres with an additional 70 litres available in the frunk.

A range-extender hybrid variant of the 6e is also on sale in China. This version utilises a 70kW 1.5-litre petrol engine as a generator and is offered with either an 18.9kWh or 28.4kWh battery, yielding electric-only ranges of 105km and 160km respectively, and a combined driving range in excess of 1000km.

However, Mr Bhindi told GoAuto that the business case currently under consideration only covers the BEV versions, although the local distributor may "potentially expand" the offering to include the hybrid if market demand warrants it.

MA’s EV business case process is now underway, with Mr Wakelam telling GoAuto that planning had been influenced by the highly concentrated nature of the Australian electric sedan segment.

“We often start (business cases) several years ahead. We have market research company that forecasts what the market is going to do. The complication now is that we are not just looking at the market overall, as we would have done in the past. We say the medium segment will be ‘this big’, but that it (may) be 20 to 40 per cent electric.”

"This is a really distorted segment because Tesla Model 3 (sales) are massively distorting it. That is probably a special case. We are not going to (sell) 25,000 6es, like they (sell Model 3s)," he said.

"To get the program across the line with Japan, we have to…put to them that we can sell this many cars, and make this much profit … We may be a bit conservative in some cases, but you can’t be too conservative.

“If we are, and the demand is (then) really high, we may not be able to get the extra production, so you have to try to get the best balance.”

According to 2024 sales data, Tesla delivered 17,094 Model 3 units locally, while the Toyota Camry registered 15,401 sales and the outgoing Mazda 6 achieved 1354 units. Midsize BEV sedans included the BYD Seal (6393) and BMW i4 (2062).

"The UK are desperate for the [6e] so they did the heavy lifting," Mr Wakelam added. "They got the (RHD) business plan approved. Once RHD is available, it makes it easier (to bring it to Australia).

"EVs are also easier than ICE cars because there is no emissions test that has to be done. It brings the cost down and means there is less unique investment for (ADR) compliance than what some other cars would have."

The CX-6e, badged as the EZ-60 in China, made its public debut at the 2025 Auto Shanghai motor show.

At 4850mm long, it is positioned above the CX-5 and CX-60 in Mazda’s global SUV hierarchy and is expected to act as the brand’s primary electric SUV offering until new EV models based on in-house architecture arrive around 2028.

The SUV’s exterior and interior reflect a half-generation evolution over the 6e, previewing Mazda’s "next-generation Kodo design" language. Styling features include LED perimeter grille lighting, a coupe-style roofline and a 26-inch touchscreen that can split into two windows.

Additional equipment includes a 3D virtual head-up display, a 23-speaker stereo system with headrest-mounted speakers, and digital exterior mirrors.

Mazda’s Shanghai presentation focused on the CX-6e range-extender model, which pairs a 1.5-litre petrol engine with a 31.7kWh LFP battery. The vehicle is rated for 128km of electric-only range and more than 1000km of total driving range, with combined system outputs of 190kW.

While specifications for the CX-6e BEV have yet to be finalised, it is anticipated that the SUV will share battery and motor configurations with the 6e, offering a choice of LFP or NMC packs and outputs of 160kW or 175kW. Estimated WLTP range figures are expected to fall between 400km and 500km.

Mr Wakelam agreed the UK was likely already working on a RHD business case for the CX-6e and suggested the SUV may reach Australian showrooms at a lower price than the 6e, owing to the higher volume expectations and resulting emissions offset benefits.

"The price structure is more complicated because we are in a partnership with another brand (Changan). They are on a similar platform anyway, the base car is probably very similar, the batteries are the same, the motors are probably the same—it is mostly the sheetmetal that is unique," Mr Wakelam said.