Mazda 6e EV tipped for pre-launch sell-out

The all-new Mazda 6e is already raising eyebrows in Australia. The brand’s first serious EV is set to launch around mid-2026 with advanced technology and a sharp price tag starting under $55,000 and is shaping up as a high-tech replacement for the recently retired Mazda6 range.

Mazda Australia’s sales and marketing director Jarrod Gieschen is confident when the 6e rolls into Australian showrooms, the first shipment from China will be spoken for.

“Our intention is that by the time the car launches we’ve got plenty of these already sold,” he told carsales.

“That’s because people have probably been wanting to step into the EV space potentially, but they want to do it with a brand that they trust,” said Gieschen.

The Mazda 6e EV is the spiritual successor to the recently-axed Mazda6 petrol car and is expected to be offered in two trim levels when it launches in Australia, both highly equipped.

“We’ve got a database of customers that are probably more likely to go with us being the brand that they trust. So we expect that we’ll find enough customers in that pre-launch strategy to sell the first few months of production,” Gieschen told carsales.

Despite being built in China by a brand few Aussies will have heard of, Changan is China’s fourth-largest car manufacturer and has a relationship with Mazda spanning more than two decades.

Indeed, Mazda has gone to great pains to assure potential buyers the new 2026 Mazda 6e is more than just a fancy Chinese EV wearing a Japanese costume.

It features unique interior and exterior designs and European-spec suspension.

“Make no mistake, the 6e is one of Mazda’s finest,” stated national product manager for Mazda 6e, Daniel Wakelam.

He pointed to the new model’s cutting-edge tech, manifested through dual high-definition digital screens in the cabin along with over-the-air updates and a different suspension tune to Chinese-market versions.

“A lot of the calibration has been done in Europe by our European research and development centre. European tastes and Australian tastes are pretty similar,” he said of the way the car drives.

“Chinese tastes are quite different, they prefer softer, floatier ride,” said Wakelam.

“So we’re basically taking the European calibration, but they are testing in Australia as well, just to make sure,” he said.

Mazda dealers are already taking expressions of interest for Mazda 6e and official pre-orders for the Mazda6’s all-electric successor are expected to start early in 2026, when equipment levels and pricing are locked in.

Mazda Australia’s managing director, Vinesh Bhindi, told carsales that following the brand’s pre-launch advertising campaign it will open the order books ahead of a mid-year launch.

“We’ll go to market at the appropriate time, once we have pricing specifications finalised with the pre-launch marketing ‘Soon, Soon’ campaign,” he said.

“Then that’ll evolve into more information for the customers at the appropriate time. Luckily, early next year,” confirmed Bhindi.

It’ll be a big year for Mazda in 2026 – the 6e’s launch will be closely followed by the all-new Mazda CX-5, which will lock horns with the new Toyota RAV4, giving family SUV buyers plenty to consider.

The brand is also keen as mustard to bring the Mazda EZ-60 electric SUV to Australia to take on the BYD Sealion 7.

Watch this space.

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