The all-electric Mazda 6e sedan in right-hand drive (RHD) has just been spotted at Laem Chabang port (Thailand). This is part of the Japanese automaker's strategic preparations to deliver vehicles in two major markets, Thailand and Australia, in July, before expanding to the UK and other right-hand drive regions such as Singapore , Hong Kong, and Indonesia.
The Mazda 6e is essentially the international export version of the Mazda EZ-6 model in the Chinese market, assembled at the Changan-Mazda joint venture's Nanjing production base.
The car has dimensions of 4,921 x 1,890 x 1,485 mm (length x width x height) and a wheelbase of 2,900 mm.
Despite sharing its structure with its Chinese partner, the interior of the Mazda 6e retains a distinctly Japanese feel with a high level of finish. The cabin is minimalist, featuring a 14.6-inch central touchscreen integrated with a high-end Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 processor, a 14-speaker Sony surround sound system, and an electrically adjustable, heat-insulating panoramic glass roof.
In its home country, the Mazda 6e is called the Mazda EZ-6. Photo: CNC .
This electric liftback shares the same EPA1 architecture platform with Deepal brand models (such as the SL03 and L07). However, Mazda asserts that they have made significant adjustments to the chassis and driving feel to maintain the brand's distinctive "Jinba-Ittai" philosophy.
The most notable feature of the right-hand drive version that has just arrived in Southeast Asia is the presence of a 78 kWh LFP battery pack supplied by the CATL-Changan joint venture. Previously, when the right-hand drive version was launched in Europe, the company's 80 kWh NMC battery option was not well-received due to its limited DC charging capacity of 90 kW and reduced motor power.
The new 78 kWh LFP battery pack has completely solved this problem by maintaining a maximum power output of 190 kW (255 hp) from the single motor located on the rear axle, while also giving the car a range of 560 km on a single full charge.
While the twin EZ-6 model has a very competitive starting price in China of 150,800 Yuan (approximately $22,200 ), the export version of the Mazda 6e is priced more than double that in some markets. For example, in the UK, the price is set at £38,995 (approximately $51,500 ). This high price is hindering sales in its home country of China, with only 1,833 units delivered in May.
In Vietnam, Mazda currently only distributes the gasoline-powered Mazda6 model, which has a fairly similar design and styling. However, the model hasn't received any upgrades for a long time, and sales are no longer as strong as they were during its heyday.