Mazda6 dies of natural causes

The death knell has finally sounded for the Mazda6, with global production of the venerable medium passenger car having wound down for good.

The sad but not unexpected announcement comes 12 months on from the model’s retirement in Japan and just days after the 2025 Mazda 6e EV was confirmed for Europe and the UK, potentially paving the way for an Australian introduction.

Mazda’s local operation hosed down the Chinese-born model’s chances back in November, but that was before right-hand drive production was confirmed for the UK.

Regardless, almost 150,000 internal combustion Mazda6s have been sold in Australia since its release here in 2002, spanning three generations.

The original was offered between 2002 and 2007, the second-gen from 2007 to 2013 and the third-gen from 2013 onwards.

“We owe a lot to Mazda6 in helping to make the Mazda brand what it is today,” Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi said.

“Coinciding with the origins of our Zoom Zoom philosophy, its local introduction in 2002 contributed to a paradigm shift for the brand, and it immediately became widely praised as the benchmark for front-wheel drive dynamics and involvement.

“While we have seen the market shift its preference towards SUVs in recent years, the Mazda6 has always been – and continues to be – held in particularly high regard by loyal enthusiasts and keen drivers alike.”

While production has now ceased, Mazda Australia has secured “a healthy supply” of new vehicles to build up stock levels and maintain decent availability deep into the coming months before things start to run dry by the end of the year.

The brand sold 1354 Mazda6s in 2024, accounting for 5.5 per cent of the continually shrinking – in terms of models – mainstream medium car segment behind the Toyota Camry (15,401/62.3%) and BYD Seal (6393/25.8%).

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