Big news for family favourite SUV brand! Japan-built Mazda electric car to launch in 2027 as it looks to defend against the rise of Chinese brands like MG, GWM, BYD and Geely

Mazda has confirmed its next electric vehicle will launch in 2027 on a newly-developed in-house platform.

This platform will be separate from the one Mazda uses in its joint-venture with China’s Changan to build the 6e sedan. The new platform is designed to support the brand’s next-generation products built in Japan.

To solve issues with competitiveness which many Japanese automakers are currently facing in the face of a rise of affordable Chinese electric models, Mazda said it expects to “reduce development investment by 40 per cent, and development man-hours by 50 per cent compared to conventional development though collaboration and partnership.

“In addition, by using existing manufacturing assets to produce both battery EV and engine vehicles on the same production line, the initial capital investment can be reduced by 85 per cent and the time for mass production preparation by 80 per cent compared to building a new factory dedicated to battery EVs.”

Mazda went on to confirm its new battery electric platform in images, announcing it would debut on a new EV in 2027 which will “be produced in Japan for global deployment".

Mazda said the new platform is capable of supporting “diverse types of battery” and that it would ensure “high flexibility” to derive different model types.

At the same time, Mazda announced it would launch a new SkyActiv Z combustion technology with a proprietary hybrid system on a new-generation CX-5 before the end of 2027.

The brand did not announce the type of vehicle its electric platform would debut on, although the accompanying image with silhouette suggests an SUV.

Locally, Mazda has long-said its future EV plans will be revealed in due time, despite pressure mounting from rivals.

Speaking to CarsGuide back in 2023, the brand’s Managing Director Vinesh Bhindi said we wouldn’t see electric vehicles from Mazda until 2026-2027, which aligned with the ‘second phase’ of Mazda’s global product plans.

“Phase three” from 2026 - 2030 will see the brand launch a “fully fledged purely electric portfolio,” Bhindi said at the time.

Notably, Mazda hasn’t confirmed the 6e sedan for Australia, despite its expansion into other right-hand-drive markets, like Thailand and the UK. It could be likely the brand is waiting for this Japanese-platformed vehicle instead.

Meanwhile, the company has also trademarked the CX-6e nameplate in the UK, although this could also be an SUV based on the same Changan platform as the 6e sedan.

For reference, the Mazda 6e has either a 68.8kWh LFP battery or 80kWh NMC battery providing 482km or 555km of range respectively. Both use a rear-mounted electric motor providing 180kW/320Nm.

Mazda is rapidly being backed into a corner in Australia as its popular but combustion-heavy range looks down the barrel of significant fines thanks to the Federal Government’s tough new emissions laws (the New Vehicle Efficiency Standard or NVES). 

The new laws bring Australia’s emissions regime largely in-line with European emissions regulations which were driving a big low-emissions push by the world’s manufacturers until a recent push-back by the industry and consumers, reflected in slower growth of EVs after years of strong growth.

While the pace of emissions regulations have slowed overseas and many zero-emissions-by-2030 targets have now been pushed back, Mazda would still be in trouble in Australia if it continues with its current line-up, meaning it will need to introduce both electric and plugless hybrid models here as a matter of urgency.

Mazda has re-bounded in Australia in 2025, up 10 per cent year-on-year with a huge 19.7 per cent jump in February. It posted strong gains across almost its entire model range. Figures the brand will no doubt be hoping to continue given these next-generation models aren’t slated to arrive until 2027.