Mazda confirms 6e electric sedan for Australia
Japanese brand’s iconic mid-sized sedan set for an electrified future
By carsales.com.au
Mazda Australia is set to revive its iconic mid-sized sedan by plugging it in.
The Japanese brand has confirmed it will launch the Chinese-built Mazda 6e in Australia from mid-2026 as a battery-powered successor to its once-popular, petrol-powered Mazda 6 four-door sedan.
The rear-wheel drive 6e is based on the Chinese-market EZ-6 that has been co-developed with Changan Automobile as a competitively priced rival to the likes of the Tesla Model 3 and BYD Seal.
It will be the car maker’s first Chinese-built car to be sold in Australia, and its second attempt at the electric car following in the wheeltracks of the unloved MX-30 compact SUV that was sold here between 2021 and 2023, when it was discontinued due to slow sales.
Mazda Australia will have another crack at entering the EV space, confirming that it will bring its all-electric Mazda 6e to our shores in 2026 as a mid-sized, rear-driven, competitively priced Tesla Model Y fighter.
Mazda is confident the 6e will enjoy greater fortunes than the MX-30 did with more space, longer driving range, the latest in tech and, most importantly, a significantly cheaper price tag.
Full specifications for Australia have yet to be locked in, but Mazda says it is targeting a sticker of around $55,000 and a cruising range of more than 500km via the Mazda 6e’s 78kWh lithium-iron phosphate (LFP) battery pack.
Power is transferred to the road via a rear-mounted electric motor that produces190kW of power and 380Nm of torque, which is almost identical to those in the Tesla Model 3.
Jarrod Gieschen, Mazda Australia’s director of sales and marketing, said he believes the Mazda 6e will be the right EV product at the right time for the brand.
“The early adopters have jumped into the market, but the mainstream customers still need a few boxes to tick, and our plan is to appeal to everyday Australians,” he said.
He added this will be actioned via a ‘Mazda-specific experience’ that encompasses the “…benefits of a trusted, reputable brand and the support of a highly engaged dealer network.
“We have a strong following in this country. We know cars. And our customers know and love our cars, and this gives us a really strong foundation to launch into the EV space as a trusted brand with trusted product.”
It’s understood that Mazda will likely bring one model-grade Down Under, with a number of option packs available to buyers to improve the equipment list, tech and potentially the levels of luxury.
“In Australia, we know there's still a desire for petrol, for diesel, and a growing interest in electrified vehicles,” said Gieschen.
“We'll continue to evolve our range in highly efficient internal combustion engines, continue to develop plug-in hybrid technology, and soon we'll launch the Mazda hybrid system with new CX-5,” he added.
However, Mazda’s local leadership said sales of the 6e are not expected to be as strong as those the Mazda6 had traditionally enjoyed and that having one less powertrain – the PHEV version – to support would lead to a stronger long-term business case.
Further details will be locked in closer to the Mazda 6e’s 2026 launch.
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