SHANGHAI MOTOR SHOW: Mazda CX-30 EV breaks cover

The Mazda CX-30 EV has been unveiled at 2021 Auto Shanghai, brining pure-electric power to the Japanese brand’s popular small SUV for the first time.

Built by the Changan-Mazda joint-venture, the electric CX-30 is likely to be sold exclusively in China for now.

It will be Mazda’s second EV after the MX-30 e-SKYACTIV, pricing for which is still to be confirmed ahead of its local launch in mid-2021.

“This is currently a Chinese market model, and from an Australian perspective we’re focussed on the MX-30 electric,” said Mazda Australia spokesperson Adam Davis.

Visually there are few differences between the regular Mazda CX-30 (a sleeker version of the CX-3) and the new EV model revealed in China.

New-look silver and matte silver exterior brightwork are in evidence, as is a massaged front bumper, side steps, black mirrors and roof rails, along with e-SkyACTIV badges.

The Mazda CX-30 EV also appears to have increased ground clearance compared to regular models.

Powertrain details remain unknown at present but Mazda says details will be revealed in the coming months, before the battery-powered CX-30 is launched in China later in 2021.

However, it’s expected to be front-wheel drive and fitted with the same 35.5kWh lithium-ion battery pack as the electric MX-30, which has a modest range of 224km (NEDC).

That said, Changan may use its own locally-developed EV powertrains to propel the electric CX-30 EV.

The Mazda MX-30 first arrived in Australia in mild-hybrid M Hybrid form in March and will be followed by the e-SKYACTIV EV variant around June and, later, a rotary range-extender version.

The MX-30 EV is powered by a single water-cooled synchronous AC motor producing 107kW/271Nm, driving through a single-speed transmission.