'Watch this space': Mazda trademarks rumoured Tesla Model Y, BYD Sealion 7 rival in UK and could launch it before the electric Mazda 6e sedan, but when will we see either in Australia?

Mazda could have an electric SUV to rival the Tesla Model Y on the horizon, and it might be headed here sooner than we think.

According to Auto Express, the CX-6e badge has been trademarked in the UK as the brand looks to fully electrify its line-up by 2030.

In the UK, it could even precede the incoming Mazda6 successor and competitor to the Tesla Model 3, BYD Seal and BMW i4, the electric 6e sedan, after it was confirmed for the UK market for a 2026 launch.

The brand's Managing Director in the UK, Jeremy Thomson, told Auto Express ambiguously “watch this space” in response to questioning on why the brand was pursuing an electric sedan before an SUV after the brand's chief hinted at an incoming electric SUV late last year.

That’s positive news for Australia as a fellow right-hand drive market, although Mazda is yet to trademarked either models locally.

Managing Director of the brand's local operations, Vinesh Bhindi, hinted that the 6e sedan was coming here last month following news of the Mazda6's departure from Australian dealers, although the CX-6e remains unspoken of for now.

"As we bid a fond farewell to the Mazda6, its legacy will continue to live on as we move into the next phase of our future strategy,” Bhindi said.

CarsGuide has contacted Mazda’s Australian division for an update on its local electrification plans following news of the CX-6e trademark in the UK. An update will follow with a response.

2025 Mazda 6e Saloon

It isn’t exactly clear what the CX-6e’s underpinnings will be, but it could by all means follow the 6e, which is built in China on a platform co-developed with Chinese automotive giant Changan.

Otherwise, Mazda could debut its first in-house EV architecture dubbed ‘Scalable SkyActiv’ on the CX-6e, which was previously confirmed for launch between now and 2030 on a suite of new electric models. Details on the new platform, however, remain tightly under wraps.

We already know the 6e Saloon will debut in the UK in early 2026 under two variants following its release in left-hand drive European markets in the middle of this year.

The base model gets a 68.8kWh lithium-ion-phosphate battery that delivers a claimed 482km of range, while the top-spec gets a larger 80kWh nickel-manganese-cobalt unit with a claimed 555km of range.

Both variants use a rear-mounted single electric motor that provides 180kW/320Nm.

2026 Mazda CX-6e (Image: Thanos Pappas)

In China, where it was released late last year, it gets an additional plug-in hybrid version with a claimed 200km of pure-electric range and a claimed total driving range of 1000km, although it is unclear whether this version will be available for export.

In order to be competitive with the Tesla Model Y and BYD Sealion 7, the CX-6e will require at least two single- and dual-motor variants with battery sizes ranging from 75 to 90kWh. The base model should theoretically have an output of 200kW/350Nm, while the driving range should ideally match either model around the 500km mark with a long-range variant nudging 550km.

It is expected to be a five-seat model with DC fast-charging and vehicle-to-load functionality, as well as a prospective price tag of around the $60,000 mark.

Stay posted for more details throughout 2025.