Mazda launches electric saloon from China now also in Europe

Mazda is bringing its EZ-6 electric saloon, which is already available in China, to Europe. It will be renamed Mazda6e. The move had been on the horizon, as Mazda is making space in Germany, for example, by taking the somewhat dated, all-electric MX-30 off the German market.

The Japanese car manufacturer unveiled the Mazda6e for the European market at the Brussels Motor Show. The spelling of the name takes some getting used to. Mazda markets the model in Europe as ‘Mazda6e’ – no spaces. The electric saloon will arrive in Germany in the summer of 2025. According to the manufacturer, prices for the German market will start at around 45,000 euros.

With the EZ-6, the Japanese company has been targeting China from the outset. However, they already announced in August that they intended to offer the vehicle in Europe later. The new electric vehicle was developed with Mazda’s Chinese partner Changan and will be produced in China. It is based on Changan’s EPA1 architecture and was presented for the first time at Auto China in Beijing in April 2024. The EZ-6 has been available in China for several months in three BEV and four EREV versions.

Mazda has now announced two BEV drive versions of the five-door hatchback saloon for Europe: the Mazda6e 258 and the Mazda6e 245 Long Range, with the number in the name referring to the power output in horsepower. The Mazda6e 258 has a maximum output of 190 kW (258 hp), and the Mazda6e 245 Long Range up to 180 kW (245 hp). Both are rear-wheel drive models, and the slightly more powerful Mazda6e has a smaller battery (68.8 kWh) on board. According to reports, however, the charging capacity will only be 95 kW – which means that the standard charging process will no longer take 45 minutes. A very unusual decision for the designated ‘long range’ model for long journeys.

According to Mazda, it has a range of 479 kilometres and a charging capacity of 200 kW (22 minutes from 10 to 80% SoC). The slightly less powerful version comes with an 80 kWh battery and is expected to complete up to 552 kilometres on one charge. Mazda has not yet specified a charging capacity or charging time.

According to the manufacturer, both versions accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in less than eight seconds, have a top speed of 175 kph, and a permissible braked trailer load of 1,500 kilograms. The saloon is 4.92 metres long, 1.89 metres wide and 1.48 metres high. Mazda is positioning it as its new main all-electric midsized model for the European market. Consequently, the dated MX-30 is about to be phased out in Germany – and, as reported, also in US.

The Mazda6e is intended to stand out visually with an elegant exterior combined with a minimalist, comfortable interior (described by Mazda as ‘Kodo Design’). Characteristics of the model include an eye-catching light signature, frameless doors, retractable door handles, a panoramic glass roof and an electrically extendable rear spoiler. In the cockpit, the vehicle features a 14.6-inch touchscreen, a 10.25-inch digital instrument cluster and a 50-inch augmented reality head-up display. Voice and gesture control for various functions, pre-air conditioning and charging planning via app and a Sony sound system with 14 speakers fitted as standard are also available.

de.mazda-press.com (German market; in German), newsroom.mazda.com