With no successor CX-3 and 6 around, Mazda USA have pulled the plug.
Mazda has been one of the few independent Japanese carmakers to have real success and growth in the last ten years. It’s incredible to think that just a short while ago, the brand was not a serious threat to its rivals. And today, not a single company out there can ignore them. However, there have been some complications as of late.
Mazda went through a huge expansion of their portfolio in the last 5-7 years. Not only did they add a CX-5, but a CX-8, CX-3, CX-4 and a CX-30. While some of these were runaway successes, the CX-3 was the smallest and least appealing to buyers, especially with the introduction of the newer, larger CX-30.
On the side of their product stack, they offered the ‘6’, often stylised as the Mazda6. This was their largest sedan, and it serves as a sort of flagship for non-SUV Mazda models.
However, the Mazda6 in its current form has been around for quite a while. The third generation model was first debuted in 2012 and in the last 9 years has been facelifted twice with multiple updates.
While it was definitely a head-turner upon its debut, the sedan segment has shrunk significantly, especially when it comes to the larger D-segment offerings. Many customers see the newer CX-5 or larger CX-8 as a better option than the 6 and the SUV trend is difficult to escape.
As a result, both the Mazda6 and the CX-3 are becoming difficult to justify. With no successor models announced, the two vehicles have just been axed in the United States. Admittedly, there could be other reasons besides demand that drove this decision. However, it is likely that the US decision to discontinue these two models without much warning might become globally adopted by Mazda too.
The press release issued by Mazda USA was short and to the point. It reads:
“For more than 100 years, Mazda has successfully navigated shifting consumer needs and an ever-changing industry with beautifully designed vehicles that are fun to drive. As consumer interests continue to evolve, Mazda will discontinue CX-3 and Mazda6 for the 2022 model year. Although these two vehicles will be leaving our lineup, we are proud of the performance, design, quality, and safety they contributed to our brand.”
Well, these two models are still very much on sale in Malaysia. You can continue to find them in showrooms and they continue to offer a decent alternative to a European premium in the same class. In fact, the Mazda6 was only recently updated in Malaysia. Perhaps this decision really is isolated to the USA after all.
