'We will stick with the traditional four-wheel drive buyer': Mazda sticking with diesel power for the 2026 Mazda BT-50 ute with no plans to go electric or plug-in hybrid to battle Ford Ranger, BYD Shark 6

Isuzu has already revealed plans to launch an electric version of its D-Max ute in Australia in 2026, but Mazda has confirmed it won’t follow suit just yet.

Mazda Australia Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi said the company won’t introduce one in the current-generation form.

“We’ll probably look at it [in] future generations,” said Bhindi.

“We’re not looking at anything right now in the current generation.”

The current Mazda BT-50 ute is essentially a twin under the skin of the Isuzu D-Max. The two utes are both built at the same Isuzu production facility in Thailand.

Isuzu revealed the D-Max EV earlier in 2025 ahead of its debut in Europe and the UK. In the latter it’s priced from £59,995 (~A$124,000), excluding a 20 per cent tax.

Like the turbo-diesel D-Max, the electric version rides on the same ladder-frame chassis and has unchanged styling beyond an ‘EV’ badge on the tailgate and a charge flap where the fuel filler typically is.

Power comes from dual electric motors, one on each axle, producing total system outputs of 130kW and 325Nm.

This is fed by a 66.9kWh lithium-ion battery, which is good for up to 262km of claimed range, according to WLTP testing. It’s capable of being charged at rates up to 50kW.

Despite not being an all-out performance or range beast, the D-Max EV retains a 1000kg payload and 3500kg braked towing capacity. It also has 210mm of ground clearance and a wading depth of 600mm.

Although Mazda isn’t currently looking to introduce an electric BT-50, Bhindi noted the success of plug-in hybrid utes, like the BYD Shark 6.

“I think when it comes to ute, I know there has been a good update of the BYD [Shark 6] … [and] they have got their fans, and I know Ranger is looking at introducing and maybe one or two others,” said Bhindi.

“We will stick with the traditional four-wheel drive buyer who use their utes for payload, for towing, for off-road. And we want to give them the best version of those.”

Mazda launched the updated version of the current BT-50 earlier in 2025. It’s currently available with either a 1.9-litre or 3.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-diesel engine, depending on the trim level.

Pricing starts from $36,400 before on-roads for the BT-50 XS 4x2 single-cab chassis with the 1.9-litre turbo-diesel, and extends to $71,500 before on-roads for the BT-50 SP dual-cab pickup with the 3.0-litre turbo-diesel.