Bid with China-sourced 6e sedan restricts to Takami specification.

MORE positive market conditions for battery-committed cars appears to have determined Mazda to come in hot with its electric sedan.

The Auckland-domiciled distributor has confirmed the 6e, a five-seater out of China with styling similar to that it applied to the now defunct petrol Mazda6, will sell for $58,990, with supply beginning in September..

That buys the model in a swish Takami treatment in rear-drive, with a 78kWh battery.

Regional availability for the car was confirmed last year, with Mazda Australia signing up then.

It appears NZ has taken the same car as the neighbour, but for less money. Had Australia’s pricing transferred, we would have been paying $62,000.

The NZ pricing strategy puts it in competition with the Tesla Model 3 Premium Rear-Wheel Drive and the BYD Seal Premium, which respectively cost $5000 and $7000 more.

Mazda NZ managing director David Hodge has previously expressed optimism that the 6e can continue the heritage of the Mazda6 nameplate, which sold locally across multiple generations.

“All generations of the Mazda6 have been held in high regard in New Zealand,” he said some months ago.

“The model is known for striking design, superb comfort and high levels of driving enjoyment. The Mazda 6e continues this theme whilst offering new levels of technology and a dynamic EV powertrain to our customers.”

The car made global sales debut in China as the EZ-6, and subsequently announced for Europe then the United Kingdom.

While Hiroshima puts its name to 6e and was responsible for the styling, the project owes as much to Changan, a car-making partner in China. It also sell the 6e under its Deepal brand and is responsible for the chassis and electronics.

In addition to the fully electric edition, Changan also has a range extender using a petrol engine as a generator to drive the wheels. That version does not seem to have consideration for this region.

The car has a 78kWh lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) battery and a 190kW single electric motor driving the rear wheels.

Driving range north of 500 kilometres based on WLTP testing is cited. Charging capacity from 30 to 80 percent in just 15 minutes is also cited.

Mazda says the design introduces the next evolution of Mazda’s design philosophy, “Kodo: Soul of Motion”.

Its cites the “smooth, flowing lines and bold features” as giving the car a “strong, yet refined, presence.”

The low roofline and short-deck coupé silhouette offer a sporty look while keeping the functionality of a five-door hatchback, the make says.

Mazda’s “signature design, craftsmanship and meticulously tuned driving performance” is promised.

Mazda NZ has lacked a passenger car of this size since the petrol Mazda6 was dropped at the starts of 2024; since then it has intensified effort into sports utilities and crossovers.

Changan also produces an electric sports utility for Mazda; it will come latter as the CX-60.

Mazda NZ now intensively targets the SUV sector and tried without success to include its previous electric model, the MX-30, into that action.

The latter came out in 2021, first as full electric then in range extender, but never resonated, even when electric car sales were at a boom.