A trademark filing for the Mazda CX-6e name in Europe suggests the Japanese carmaker has decided on what to call its next electric SUV, due by the end of 2027.
Uncovered by Auto Express, the CX-6e trademark is expected to be affixed to a mid-sized battey-electric SUV which will rival the likes of the top-selling Tesla Model Y in what is the most lucrative segment for carmakers globally.
Almost all of Mazda’s current SUVs wear the CX name, while the 6e – also sold as the EZ-6 – is the Japanese brand’s new electric sedan successor to the petrol and diesel-powered 6, suggesting the new electric model will be closely related to its battery-powered counterpart.
In November 2024, Mazda released a roadmap of future model launches, which included a new SUV which it said is due to launch between 2025 and 2027, based on a dedicated EV platform.
The platform is also planned to support plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs), however, Mazda hasn’t provided any more details about it as yet.
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Mazda Arata concept
Mazda’s roadmap also included mention of launching a second ‘alliance’ EV with Chinese partner Changan in 2027, with the upcoming model to take shape as a ‘crossover’ SUV.
While the aforementioned Mazda 6e/EZ-6 is based on a Changan platform and first went on sale in China, at last year’s Beijing motor show the Japanese brand revealed a new SUV concept which is set to be the second model from its partnership.
The Arata show car was revealed alongside the EZ-6 sedan, and while it’ll initially go on sale in China as a production model, Mazda is yet to confirm whether it’ll be sold outside of that market.
Its shape is a blend of the design elements of the EZ-6 and a familiar SUV silhouette which doesn’t look too dissimilar from recent large Mazda SUVs.
As previously reported, Mazda has trademarked the name EZ-60 in China, which is likely to appear on the production version of the Arata.
If this is the case, it’s more probable that the CX-6e name will be used for the Changan-derived electric SUV – mirroring the EZ-6/6e – rather than Mazda’s own electric SUV.
At present, Mazda has only made one in-house EV – the MX-30, which has been discontinued in Australia – plus the EZ-6/6e.
Despite the 6 sedan and wagon’s demise locally, Mazda Australia has only said the EZ-6/6e is “under study for overseas markets”.
As Mazda gears up to launch a new electric SUV, it’s also set to introduce the third generation of its best-selling CX-5 later this year.
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