Mazda 6E News

Mazda is already offering retail discounts on its pure-electric 6e medium sedan and CX-6e mid-size SUV, even as the latter is only just beginning to hit local showrooms. Under the umbrella of ‘EV Driveaway Offers’ the four-door, five-seat Mazda 6e, which launched here in July this year, is priced from $52,990 for the entry-grade GT and $55,990 for the top-spec Atenza, both including 12 months registration, 12 months compulsory third party insurance, stamp duty, other applicable statutory charges, dealer delivery and administration charges. In both cases that’s an increase of $3000 over the normal MSRP (Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price) of $49,990 and $52,990, respectively. But although those normally additional charges vary slightly by state and territory, they can add up to $5500 to the ticket for a car in this price range. At the same time, the about to touch down mid-size CX-6e has been given an identical price haircut with the GT at $56,990, drive-away (normally $53,990, before on-road costs) and flagship Azami at $59,990 (normally, $56,990 before on-road costs). All versions of the 6e and CX-6e are powered by a 190kW/290Nm single electric motor driving the rear wheels with a 77.9kWh battery delivering a driving range of up to 560km in the 6e and 484km in the CX-6e, with an approximate 30-80 per cent DC charge time of 15 minutes. For full details on the Mazda 6e check out our Australian first drive review and keep an eye out for our first thoughts on the CX-6e coming soon. These price reductions aren’t an isolated event for Mazda with the brand running drive-away offers on selected versions of the BT-50 ute, CX-3 and CX-30 small SUVs, runout and new versions of the CX-5 medium SUV, larger CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90 as well as the city-sized Mazda 2 hatch and evergreen Mazda 3 small hatch. With so many new challenger brands scrabbling for share in the Aussie new car market, buyers are holding the whip hand with more discounting in multiple segments undoubtedly in the works.

Changan is the next monster-sized car brand to launch in Australia, and going by the blockbuster 35,000 orders in 24 hours its Nevo Q06 large SUV received in China - we’ll probably be buying this XPeng G6 rival in big numbers here soon, too. Changan has all-but confirmed its launch in Australia, with the massive carmaker undergoing a hiring spree for staff locally. There is no word on a local line-up yet, but as we’ve seen in the past the best way to see what’s coming here is to watch what’s launching in China. In this case it's the Changan Nevo Q06, which had already seen 35,000 orders within 24 hours of its launch on September 23. China has a massive car market, but even so 35,000 orders for the Changan Nevo Q06 is enormous. The previous car to do similar colossal figures was the BYD Song with 37,216 when it launched in March this year. The 35,000 orders were all for the dual-motor rear-wheel drive Nevo Q06, which starts at 139,900 Yuan or about A$30,000. If it comes to Australia the price tag could be similar to the XPeng G6 and Deepal S07 at about $50,000. The Nevo Q06 is large at 4837mm in length, and has five seats with a big 782 litre rear boot and 196 litre front boot on the battery electric vehicle (BEV) variant. There’s actually five different BEVs on offer and one hybrid range extender variant. The big order number was for the rear-wheel drive BEV version, which has two electric motors making a combined 330kW and packs a 0-100km/h time of 4.8 seconds. Two battery capacities are offered for the BEVs: 66kW or 80kW. Driving range is from 602-700km (CLTC) depending on the battery and variant. The range extender variant uses a 1.5-litre petrol engine and a 28.39kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery. If the Nevo Q06 looks familiar then it may be because it was designed under the guidance of former Volkswagen head of design Klaus Zyciora, now Changan’s Vice President. One of Zyciora’s final projects with Volkswagen was the design of the ID.4 and ID.5. You don’t have to look too hard to see some styling similarities between them and the Nevo Q06, from the frontal design to the tailgate treatment complete with familiar LED lighting. Changan will be the next big Chinese car brand to come to Australia, with the carmaker expecting to officially announce its presence before the end of the year with launches expected to take place in 2027. Changan is already here in many ways with its sub-brand Deepal already selling vehicles and the company also provides the platforms for the Mazda 6e sedan and CX-6e SUV. When Changan does open for business it’ll likely lead with the E06 small SUV, which is already sold in the UK. The Nevo Q05 is also under consideration for right-hand drive markets, including Malaysia, which are often a stepping stone to landing here. The company also makes and sells utes and the hybrid Hunter K50 is currently sold in South Africa.

Sales of Mazda’s Tesla Model 3 rival are now fully on tap in Australia and we finally have an understanding of how it’s stacking up on the sales chart. As detailed in the latest VFACTS sales report, Mazda sold a total of 283 examples of the 6e electric liftback during July in Australia. This is off the back of the Japanese carmaker selling 28 examples of the 6e in June. Mazda has only reported two months of 6e sales in Australia so far and the figures may be higher than usual due to initial customer backlogs and demonstrator coverage across its dealer network. This will likely equalise over the coming months, giving a clear picture of demand and sales. Tesla sold a total of 134 examples of the Model 3 electric sedan in July, as detailed in the latest EV Council sales report. This is down 63 per cent compared to July 2025. Until the end of July a total of 3326 Model 3 examples were sold, which is down 18.4 per cent year-on-year. BYD, on the other hand, sold a total of 394 examples of the Seal electric sedan in July. This is up 44.3 per cent compared to July 2025. Until the end of July a total 3048 Seal examples were sold, which is up 62 per cent year-on-year. The Mazda 6e liftback is the Japanese carmaker’s second electric vehicle (EV) in Australia, following the niche MX-30 EV SUV that was offered earlier this decade. It’s produced in China in partnership with its joint venture Changan Mazda. It shares its platform with the Deepal SL03. Two versions of the 6e are offered in Australia – GT and Atenza. Pricing starts from $49,990 before on-road costs. All versions are powered by a single, rear-mounted electric motor that produces 190kW and 290Nm. This is fed by a 78kWh lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery that allows for up to 560km of WLTP-claimed range. Following the launch of the 6e electric liftback, it’s soon launching an SUV counterpart called the CX-6e. Like the 6e, it’s made in China in partnership with Changan Mazda. Two versions of the CX-6e are set to be offered – GT and Azami. Pricing starts from $53,990 before on-road costs, which is $4000 more than the 6e.   Despite this, SUVs sell in much higher volumes than passenger cars (sedans, liftbacks and hatchbacks) in Australia. For context, Tesla has sold a total of 25,040 examples of the Model Y/Model Y L in Australia so far this year. It’s by far the best-selling EV and the third best-selling car overall, behind only the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. With this in mind, it’s likely that Mazda will have higher sales of the CX-6e electric SUV than the 6e electric liftback. We’ll have to wait and see how it stacks up once it properly launches.

Australia’s love-affair with electric cars is a passing fling, at least according to one of the country’s biggest brands. Electric vehicle (EV) sales have increased dramatically in 2026, in particular since the start of the conflict between the USA and Iran began in February and sent oil prices soaring. EV sales are up more than 150 per cent year-to-date and Tesla’s Model Y was the best-selling vehicle in June, with more than 8000 finding new homes. EVs have gone from accounting for just 7.6 per cent of the total new car market in June 2025 to more than 23 per cent in June 2026. But despite this, Mazda Australia Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi believes this current sales scenario is a spike rather than sustainable growth in the foreseeable future and believes there are other factors at play. “ From an Australian point-of-view, yes there is disruption in the market with the oil supply issues, that has made some drastic changes,” he said. “But there's also another element, I think back in March, there was also this rumour of the FBT possibly disappearing in the May budget. So that also accelerated those customers who were looking at it. “But when you look at post-crisis, yes, the crisis is still in play, but it's not as severe. There are a lot more signs showing a return to normality, but we all know the crisis is not over yet. So one of the changes coming is the fuel excise step down. Again, it's good that it's a step down rather than an overnight. And then, how far and long that peace agreement holds will determine a few things. “But you take all of that aside, pre-March the market was normal and EV appeal was growing, which is what's expected, but at a normalised rate. Then post , it's come closer to what I call normalised. And then you look at the middle and say, ‘Was there any structural change that you could say is permanent?’ And the answer is no. The idea of this transition growing, accelerating is there, and will happen, but it's not suddenly gonna go from under 10 per cent to I think over whatever it was, 14 per cent at some points.” That opinion is at odds with Tony Weber, Chief Executive of the industry's peak body, the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry, who believes the latest EV sales surge has had a major impact.  “The Australian automotive market has shifted on its axis during the first months of 2026. This year is likely to represent a significant turning point for the Australian automotive industry,” Weber said in an FCAI statement. Mazda has been one of the slower brands to adapt to the EV shift, Bhindi was speaking to CarsGuide at the release of the new Mazda 6e, only the brand’s second electric model. The brand has only confirmed the addition of the CX-6e SUV as its other EV option, which leaves it exposed as more buyers look for electric alternatives. Mazda sales are down over 17 per cent year-to-date and the brand has slipped behind BYD, which is focused entirely on EV and plug-in hybrid vehicles.  The arrival of the 6e and future addition of the CX-6e clearly come at a good time for the brand, but Bhindi believes that there is no immediate rush as mainstream consumer demand is still growing. “ Oh, I think it'll grow from the 10 per cent, but at what pace is yet to be determined, because over time, consumers are getting comfortable with the idea of an EV and the lifestyle can match,” he said. Bhindi reaffirmed his stance that Mazda will look to cater to customer demand rather than any government legislation, such as the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES), and believes the 6e is the right car at this moment. “ Now, I'm the first one to say we first look at what the consumer wants before we look at what the legislation is telling us,” he explained. “Because the consumer is the one who makes the final decision. And providing this car, again helps us as a business, but more importantly it is talking to that customer base that probably will be between 10 and 20 per cent in the years ahead that will say, ‘This is what I want.’”

Sedans used to be the staple of many brands in Australia, from the Holden Commodore to the Toyota Camry, but the SUV boom has seen numbers drop off significantly. Ten years ago, in 2016, the Toyota Camry was the fifth best-selling car in Australia, followed by the Commodore sedan in sixth. Fast forward to 2025, Toyota's sedan was the 35th best-selling car in the country, and the Commodore was nowhere to be seen. In 2026 there have been less than 10,000 mid-size sedan sales in Australia so far compared to mid-size SUVs, where almost 100,000 have already been sold.  The Camry is still the dominant player in the sedan-only segment, owning nearly 70 per cent, but it looks like China’s next battleground in Australia will be a shot at shaking its dominance. BYD has led the way in this respect and it already has a fully-electric Seal and the just-launched plug-in hybrid Seal 6 on the market. The Seal in particular made some successful inroads into the sedan space. It accounts for the majority of sales outside of the Camry and the Tesla Model 3. The brand is not stopping there, with a larger Seal 7 plug-in hybrid sedan now approved for sale in Australia. MG is another brand focussing on sedans, having already brought in its MG5 a few years ago and the MG7 in 2026, both to middling levels of success so far. It’s not just BYD and MG that are getting in on the sedan act, however, with Geely confirming its Emgrand sedan next year initially in plug-in hybrid form, but possibly also plugless at a later date. Additionally the China-built Tesla Model 3 remains one of the best-selling EVs in the country. There are also 'legacy' brands pinning their hopes on a strong-selling sedan.  Mazda recently launched its fully-electric 6e sedan, which is based on the Deepal L07 (not yet sold in Australia) - another China-made model.  The 6e is a crucial model for Mazda as it looks to turn around extensive fines incurred under the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) due to its predominantly petrol-powered range. The electric 6e saw its initiative pre-order allocation run out very quickly, starting from $49,990 (before on-road costs), highlighting early signs of it achieving its potential. Korean brands Kia and Hyundai have also seen solid sales from its hatch/sedan models, with the K4 and i30 plugging along with a decent amount of registrations, which will be bolstered thanks to the arrival of desirable plugless hybrid versions of both. As usual, price is a key factor where Chinese sedans are providing an enticing alternative, bucking the trend of sedans becoming more expensive as buyers focus on SUVs. While the Mazda 2 is the most affordable sedan on sale at just $28,490, it is the sought-after hybrid tech luring buyers to newer options. The plug-in hybrid Seal 6, for example, starts from $34,990, which is $5000 more affordable than the plug-less hybrid-only Camry, and it is both larger and offers genuine EV range over the barely more affordable Hyundai i30 plugless hybrid (from $33,250). It will no doubt be a similar story for Geely's Emgrand EM-i which is set to launch in 2027. While SUVs remain the biggest seller in Australia, this new wave of affordable and electrified sedans could see the once bustling segment reignited. The question remains whether this array of new options will just fragment a shrinking part of the market, or whether buyers are now looking for something different from the SUV trend.

The extremely rapid pace of development maintained by Chinese car brands is impressive and largely comes down to the immense resources afforded to the industry. However, it’s not all money, the tech sector and people-power. Australia has had a significant hand in many of the nimble adaptations made since China’s car brands began looking past its borders for customers. To varying degrees, Australia has been somewhat of a testing ground for new Chinese cars as engineers and designers find the strengths and weaknesses of their work. This is not to say the Chinese car industry is in its infancy, but until recently there was no need for brands to tailor cars to suit global tastes. New car engineers from brands outside China have generally noted the preference, for example, for soft, wafty suspension and driver assistance systems. “We recognise that the Chinese tuning approach is very different from what we need to have here in Europe. So every market has a different taste,” Mazda Europe's Senior Manager of Product Development and Engineering Alexander Fritsche told media last year when explaining the work that went into developing the Mazda 6e electric car as a global model. Based on the Deepal L07, the Mazda 6e underwent major suspension changes and driver assist adjustments to suit Europe, and by extension Australia. “Particularly interesting… is that the Chinese market seems to like very mild, soft ride comfort,” Fritsche said. Preferences between Australia and Europe are more similar than between Australia and China, but the changes Mazda Europe made to the 6e aren’t the only example of this.  Chinese brands have adjusted their approach to global models very quickly in the last few years, with the feedback from Australian customers, media, and even the brands’ own importers or Australian subsidiaries helping deliver cars that aren’t just built for domestic tastes. Stellantis Australia Senior Product Manager Rick Crichton spoke to media at the local launch of the Leapmotor B10 in early 2026 and said Leapmotor’s headquarters was not only receptive to Australian feedback, but regularly sought it. “They are constantly asking for our feedback,” Crichton said. “Us being the closest to the ground, I've got a pretty good handle on the Australian automotive landscape, so they are always curious for my feedback.  “They want my input, and we put requests into them and they're super responsive because they are geared for success.  “Even in some of the requests I've made for simple feature changes via OTA, they're coming through in, you know, lightning quick.” It’s not just brands new to the market like Leapmotor or Deepal that are quickly learning what Australian drivers and car buyers prefer. GWM has been in Australia for approaching two decades, having launched in 2009 as Great Wall. Although only the last decade of that has been factory-backed from headquarters in China, the brand’s long-running presence in Australia compared to its compatriots last year saw GWM take the step of employing one of Australia’s best-known ride and handling engineers, former Holden vehicle dynamics lead engineer Rob Trubiani. “GWM has been actively listening to local customer feedback for several years now with much of this feedback already making its way into the final tuning of new models making their way to the Australian and New Zealand markets,” GWM said in a statement announcing Trubiani’s recruitment in March 2025.   “In hiring Mr Trubiani, GWM’s objective is to strengthen local engineering efforts with a view to further improving vehicle dynamics and, ultimately, customer experience across the region.” While the long-term effects of Trubiani’s presence at GWM are yet to be seen, new entry to the market, GAC, has already locally tested its three models from launch having worked with Toyota in China for decades. “We have learned a lot from them, and we believe that the customer will have a different experience by driving GAC,” Deputy General Manager of GAC Australia Cheney Liang told CarsGuide in November 2025. The Aion V mid-size electric SUV, the M8 plug-in hybrid people mover and the Emzoom compact SUV were the first three confirmed cars from the brand to land in Australia.  “When we picked the models, we came to Australia. We have already done the Australian test,” Liang confirmed. Different approaches, different results, but the common theme that Australia is often the first external market for Chinese brands to learn in is clear. Who knows what the market will look like in a few more years, but it’s likely the increasing quality of Chinese cars won’t slow down.

Tesla is Australia’s most popular electric vehicle (EV) brand… but for how much longer?

The Mazda 6e has just been priced in Australia, and will start from $49,990, before on-road costs. The all-electric sedan is due to hit Aussie roads in July of this year, as an important model for Mazda in Australia. It is priced in tight proximity to some of its key rivals such as the BYD Seal and the recently-launched Kia EV4. Both those cars have significantly more expensive high-spec models, with Mazda’s top-spec Atenza grade starting from $52,990. Mazda is offering a free upgrade to the Atenza grade for the first 300 customers to pre-order the GT variant. Both variants are powered by a single rear-mounted electric motor, which produces 190kW and 290Nm. Unlike some rivals, there is currently no all-wheel drive version of the 6e. The sedan has a 78kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, offering a driving range of 560km, according to the WLTP testing cycle. This means it has roughly 100km more WLTP range than the Kia EV4 and the BYD Seal. DC charging from 30 to 80 per cent takes 15 minutes for the 6e.  The 6e is based on the Deepal L07 from Mazda's joint-venture partner, which is a Chinese-built model not on sale in Australia. On the inside, the 6e has a 10.2-inch digital driver display and 14.6-inch central touchscreen, with heated and ventilated front seats as standard. The GT variant can be optioned with a beige interior trim for an extra $1000. The 6e will be followed by the CX-6e SUV coming to Australia later in the year as an electric SUV. The CX-6e and the 6e will be Mazda's first electric models since the discontinued MX-30 in 2024, and the first Chinese-built Mazdas sold in Australia. 2026 Mazda 6e pricing Australia 2026 Mazda 6e electric motor and efficiency 2026 Mazda 6e standard features 19-inch alloy wheels 14.6-inch central touchscreen 10.2-inch digital driver display Keyless entry Tri-zone climate control Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto Heated and ventilated front seats Ambient lighting 14-speaker Sony audio system Atenza grade adds Leather and synthetic suede seats Two-tone leather steering wheel Synthetic suede dashboard and door trims   2026 Mazda 6e safety The Mazda 6e has not been crash tested by ANCAP.  Standard safety features include: 360-degree camera with see through view Blind spot monitoring Auto emergency braking Vehicle exit alert Lane departure warning Lane keep assist 2026 Mazda 6e dimensions   The 6e forms an important part of Mazda's model strategy for dealing with Australia's new vehicle efficiency standards (NVES) which imposes increasingly tight C02 limits on each car brand's model range. Stay tuned later in the year when more information becomes available on the brand's CX-6e range which will no doubt sell in higher numbers.

Mazda has pushed back its in-house EV plans to 2029 as it focuses development of its incoming in-house hybrid drivetrain, according to a new report. Mazda had planned to launch its next-generation Japanese-developed electric car in 2027, but had pushed back to 2028 and now 2029. According to industry source Automotive News this is because hybrid demand is booming in the US, while electric vehicle incentives are being removed. The outlet quoted Mazda’s CEO Masahiro Moro as saying the brand expects EV sales now to only account for 25 per cent or less of its global sales due to changing market forces, particularly in the US. This revises Mazda’s original expectations of 25 - 40 per cent of global volume to be fully electric by 2030. However, while a significant portion of the brand's sales remain in North America and Japan, a significant portion remains in markets like Europe and Australia. Australia is the third largest market by volume for Mazda globally, after the US and Japan, forcing the brand to adapt to our conditions. This means sourcing more low emissions vehicles in the interim to comply with our Euro-inspired New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES). This recently-introduced regulation tightens the vice on carbon emissions based on manufacturer’s vehicle sales, under threat of fines for every unit sold which pushes them over a pre-defined CO2 limit. Mazda is one of the most exposed brands in Australia currently. It offers only a limited array of hybrid models, with the majority of its sales still being pure combustion vehicles, like the ever-popular CX-5. A next-generation CX-5 is due, although it will continue on with a petrol engine until the hybrid variant launches in 2027. Unlike the hybrid Mazda CX-50 available in America, which borrows its hybrid tech from Toyota, the new CX-5 will use an in-house Mazda-developed hybrid system the brand calls SkyActiv-Z. In the interim, Mazda has confirmed it will sell the China-built fully electric 6e sedan and CX-6e, both are platform-shares with Changan’s Deepal brand. The brand has earmarked even more models to potentially spawn from this tie-up. Potentially this could include a Mazda take on Deepal’s S09 over-five-meter-long large SUV, or a small SUV based on the more compact S05, which would sit beneath the CX-6e to compete with the likes of MG’s S5. In another potential blow to Mazda in Australia, there are also fresh reports out of Japan that its two entry-level models, the Mazda 2 and CX-3, will cease production over the course of 2026. While these two cars are the oldest models in Mazda’s line-up, they continue to sell well in Australia thanks to regular updates.  The removal of these accessible models plus the delay on a hybrid CX-5 could see Mazda tumble down the sales charts in 2026, making the roll-out of its Chinese-built models ever more important.   However, Japanese media are also reporting a small car successor is due based on the Vision-X compact car shown at Tokyo Motor Show in 2025. The model will reportedly be built in Thailand as part of a push by Mazda to make the country a new export hub. Again, if this model does come to Australia, it could be as far out as 2028, making Mazda’s short term outlook for 2026 and 2027 more challenging. Mazda has told CarsGuide in 2024 its order of priorities are the new CX-5, its hybrid version, and then “small architecture cars.” Stay tuned for more on Mazda’s plans for 2026 as it faces a rapidly changing new car market. In particular it will need to fend off an aggressive new model strategy from an ambitious BYD, which is plotting a top-three market position by the end of the year.

The next Mazda 6 will not be built in Japan.