Have you seen the many novelties – including the international ones – stemming from Auto China 2024? Yep, the 18th Beijing International Automotive Exhibition, which takes place between April 25 and May 4 at the China International Exhibition Center in Beijing, China, is clearly one of the year's best events.
It is not just a local showcase anymore; it has a growing importance regarding what happens next around the automotive world. For example, Mazda has premiered two models – an all-new Mazda6 dubbed Mazda EZ-6 in China because it's done by Changan Mazda based on their electrified Deepal SL03 model and the Mazda Arata concept that looks like it can easily preview a future Tesla Model Y rival, at least for the local market.
However, we should corroborate this with a report from February that claimed the next-generation Mazda CX-5 will come out to play in 2025, complete with an all-new name. Allegedly, the internal combustion-engined CX-5, which is Mazda's best-selling model worldwide, could be replaced by an all-new EV model next year, and the ICE model's direct successor could be rebranded as CX-40. Well, frankly, due to the notoriety of the CX-5 nameplate, we think it could be exactly the other way around.
Alas, the imaginative realm of digital car content creators thinks the report and the Arata are somehow related, and the good folks over at the AutoYa info channel on YouTube have imagined the CGI looks of the third generation of the company's best-selling Mazda CX-5 CUV styled after the Chinese concept and complete with an all-electric powertrain, as per the recent report from across the rumor mill.
This time around, unlike on other occasions, the channel's resident pixel master hasn't done much CGI work – they just took the Arata prototype and redressed it with additional ritzy colors while also postulating that its interior could look like the one on the EZ-6 (which is rumored to go by EZ-60 when ready for series production). However, most likely, nothing of that will happen.
Hear us out on this. Mazda probably sees the current EV slowdown when even Tesla has gone through earth-shattering transformations lately, especially job cuts. They also have the failed MX-30 to remember, so it would be illogical to give up their most popular ICE model for a potential EV iteration. Most likely, the next CX-5 won't have zero emissions (or won't be solely an EV) and also won't feature a name change because that could alienate the customer base.
Besides, at least in North America, MNAO - Mazda North American Operations - is doing well, as its year-to-date sales of 131,228 vehicles represent an 8.7% increase compared to the January to April sales of 2023. As always, the CX-5 compact crossover SUV remains their most popular asset, with a total of 45494 units. Thus, why would they jeopardize their milk cow with a risky strategy change towards EVs when everyone is thinking about bringing back ICE-powered models from the grave?
Aurel has aimed high all his life (literally, at 16 he was flying gliders all by himself) so in 2006 he switched careers and got hired as a writer at his favorite magazine. Since then, his work has been published both by print and online outlets, most recently right here, on autoevolution. Full profile
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