Recently, Mazda unveiled its all-new EZ-6 at the Beijing Auto Show, sparking consternation among enthusiasts and critics. Mazda’s electric fleet hasn’t been very exciting up to this point, with the brand remaining completely neutral on the idea altogether. If any of you remember the MX-30 version, you’ll know how bad it was for the outboard group.
Until now, we’ve been convinced that Mazda will stick to PHEVs and hybrids only, and eventually ditch the electric trim for one of the aforementioned nameplates. However, attendees at the Chinese auto show were able to catch a glimpse of the components of the all-new EX-6 electric car, and hints at the 6e’s debut in Europe, Asia and eventually the US. The one thing you can’t predict with car manufacturers is the schedule.
Some electric cars have been teased for years to no avail, with shoppers forgetting about them by the time official announcements are made. Mazda is a more staid car company, often riding under the noise of its competitors. However, with the latest EZ-6, we see a bolder, sleeker version of Mazda design, which is why we’re convinced the long-awaited Mazda 6e will return shortly thereafter. Whatever the case, you can use this post to keep up with Mazda EV news, and we’ll walk you through the signs that an all-electric 6e is on the horizon. Stay tuned.
In order to provide you with the most current and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was obtained from Mazda and other reliable sources, including the European Union Intellectual Property Office and the US Energy Information Administration.
Why might the EZ-6 be just the beginning?
If there’s one thing we’re incredibly hopeful about, it’s Mazda’s future electric lineup. With the debut of the EV-6 in China earlier this month and news of patent filings for the 6e, the automaker appears to be fully committed to the electric cause. Of course, this requires time, precision and a lot of creative genius, even though Mazda has made electric cars before. Did everything go well? No, but can the brand redeem itself and enter the electric car segment with a swing? naturally.
The EZ-6 follows an ultra-modern sedan design, and the 6e will likely be the same, or at least similar. Some of the EZ-6’s specifications have been announced, featuring an all-electric configuration with 255 hp and a PHEV that delivers 215 hp. Furthermore, the nameplate will have 373 all-electric miles, while plug-in hybrids will see 621 miles. Between the two, you have very impressive range and performance, hopefully up to the potential 6e nameplate.
The EZ-6 has 255 hp (190 kW/258 hp) and a top speed of 106 mph (170 km/h). The manufacturer was coy about further details, but you can expect a lithium iron phosphate battery.
Mazda is taking things slowly
One of the many behaviors we’ve continued to notice from Mazda is that with its versions, PHEV, hybrid or EV, the company likes to take things slowly. Therefore, patent filings for the 6e can only mean that the brand is starting its electric journey and will eventually debut this model in pre-production in a few years. This has been the formula for Mazda. Take it easy, then surprise everyone with a competitive model or fleet. On the EV side, we expect the same event schedule.
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Patents registered for the Mazda 6e in Europe
Moving along the Mazda electric news cycle this month, we also have European patent filings posted via the European Union Intellectual Property Office’s website, though they lack further details. This opens up some imagination on our part, as the name 6e could be for something completely different.
The patent details prove that Mazda has plans to use the 6e name and brand for one (or more) cars, so this confirms our guess a bit. Regardless, you don’t quite know what a Mazda is, so we won’t set anything in stone (yet). One way this might go is that Europe sees the 6e first, and Mazda uses this EV-friendly market as a proving ground for its more successful customer base in North America. Just our two cents.
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Mazda has had an electric car before
One thing we’ll remind you is that Mazda isn’t new to the electric car game. As we said before, the MX-30 had everything in its DNA to be a huge success, but once the official range and performance details became public knowledge, the general public quickly began to warm to the idea. One reason the MX-30 failed in the US is that it only offered an EPA-estimated 92 miles of range, becoming one of the electric models with the lowest miles per charge in history. That’s not usually a title someone wants to keep, especially with their first electric nameplate, so the MX-30 will cease production in 2023. Currently, it’s an unfortunate memory for many Mazda fans.
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Mazda will continue to expand its electric vehicle lineup
With the EZ-6 confirmed and making its way through production, a patent for the 6e panel filed in Europe, and a strong PHEV commitment from Mazda, the electric future looks rather bright for the Asian manufacturer. First, we haven’t seen any all-electric Mazda vehicle hit American soil since the MX-30, although the brand currently sells the CX-70 PHEV, which boasts 26 miles of 100 percent electric driving range, and the CX-90 PHEV, which It offers a 26-mile all-electric range, too.
Mazda has seen these cars slowly rise to the top of its U.S. fleet sales, and many drivers like to experiment with plug-ins. As of 2024, the hybrid market makes up 8.5 million cars on the road in the United States as of December 2023. This is the second largest amount after Japan as of 2024. Mazda is a Japanese brand, so we are putting pieces together there.
There has never been a better time to manufacture hybrids and electric vehicles
In addition to our above-mentioned sector, the broader electric and semi-electric market is thriving globally. Of course, the overall auto market is bad at the moment, with a moderate recession hitting most major and secondary markets, although the trend towards electrification is providing some relief for manufacturers who follow suit. Mazda is one of the slower brands to adopt electric manufacturing, but this may work to its advantage. We’ve seen a lot of brands go electric and not do their best, only to have to cut prices and lose profits at the end of the year. Mazda is slow and steady and has its eye on the prize. We respect that.
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The EZ-6 is the ideal aperture for the 6E family
If there’s one point we want to leave you with after reading this, it’s that the world of electricity is upon us. Whether it’s a Japanese manufacturer like Mazda, an American brand like Tesla, European models like the Volkswagen ID.4, or something else, all major automotive markets are shifting toward cleaner driving and production. With the EZ-6 confirmed and on its way to Asian consumers, this opens the door to Europe and North America. The 6e series will likely make its way to Europe first, and ideally will hit US streets around the same time as the EZ-6. We haven’t even mentioned the third electrical panel teased by Mazda, the Arata, so there’s a lot to pump about.
Regardless, Mazda is entering its electric era, whether that’s a PHEV, full EV sedan, or SUV, and we’re very glad they haven’t given up yet on the MX-30. Listen, sometimes you have to fail to see what the future holds. Mazda is an electric underdog, but we’re betting big on it.
