2025 Mazda 'EZ-6' electric sedan teased for China ahead of reveal next week

Mazda’s Chinese division has teased a new all-electric sedan ahead of its debut at the Beijing Auto Show next week.

The sedan, which could wear an ‘EZ-6’ badge following recent trademarks in China, will become the brand’s first electric vehicle built from the ground up – but it won’t be an authentic Mazda, limiting its export potential.

Recent spy shots from China confirm the ‘EZ-6’ – codenamed J90A internally – will be heavily based on the Deepal SL03 built by Mazda’s Chinese joint-venture partner Changan, with identical dimensions.

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However, it appears Mazda’s Tesla Model 3 rival will adopt some of its own styling traits, such as a circular LED signature within the tail-lights, different headlights, and unique alloy wheels.

It is likely the Mazda ‘EZ-6’ will also be offered with an extended-range petrol-electric powertrain, while an SUV derivative – codenamed J90K and likely badged ‘EZ-60’ – could arrive later based on the midsize Deepal S7, which has similar dimensions to the Tesla Model Y.

In China, the electric Mazda EZ-6 is expected to replace the current Mazda 6, which ended production for that market in December 2023.

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Outside of China, Mazda filed to trademark the ‘Mazda 6e’ and ‘6e’ names with the European Union Intellectual Property Office on March 18, 2024, to protect its use for “automobiles and their parts” and “electric cars and their parts”.

This points to an all-electric successor for the Mazda 6 for other markets – such as Australia, Japan, Europe and North America – which could be based on Mazda’s own ‘SkyActiv Multi-Solution Scalable Architecture’ instead of the China-specific ‘EPA’ platform underpinning the Mazda EZ-6 and Deepal SL03.

An electric successor to the current Mazda 6 – which has been on sale for 12 years – would provide Mazda with a rival to the Tesla Model 3, Polestar 2 and BYD Seal.

It would also compete with premium midsize electric cars like the BMW i4 and soon-to-arrive Mercedes-Benz CLA EV.

Globally, Mazda offers two electric vehicles – the MX-30 EV and the China-only CX-30 EV.

The MX-30 Electric was axed in Australia in late 2023 due to “Mazda Corporation’s strategy to welcome a range of new electrified models between now and 2025 – including hybrid electric vehicles, PHEVs and BEVs”.