Japan Waves Goodbye to Mazda6’s Demise

Mazda confident CX models can fill void, no plans for replacement

Unfortunately, Mazda has made the decision to discontinue its midsize sedan in Japan. The aging 6 will no longer be produced in its home market and production is scheduled to cease in the middle of April. However, if you act quickly, there is still an opportunity to make a purchase. Since its debut 22 years ago, the Atenza/6 has garnered 226,437 total sales.

Since its debut in 2012, the present iteration of the 6 sedan/wagon tandem has been around for quite some time. However, it is now reaching its retirement age in the Japanese market after already being discontinued in the United States in 2021 and the United Kingdom in 2023.

It is equally disheartening to learn about Mazda’s plans for the vacant space left by the discontinuation of the 6 – which, unfortunately, involves no action at all. The brief statement released regarding the car’s departure from the Japanese market simply mentions that the CX range of crossovers will take on its role. For those of us who appreciate traditional sedans and wagons, a suitable replacement would be highly desired. This desire is compounded by the fact that the Mazda3 is too compact and lacks options for a more practical wagon model.

In early 2022, Mazda officially discarded the idea of developing a new generation of the 6 on its recently introduced rear-wheel-drive platform. Despite this decision, there was still speculation among Japanese magazines about the possibility of a fourth-generation model. According to Best Car, the popular car manufacturer may have had a change of heart due to the positive reception of their CX-60 and CX-90 vehicles. In fact, some journalists even suggested that a rear-wheel-drive version of the 6 had been approved for production.

Despite what Mazda’s recent press release suggests, there seems to be a glimmer of hope for the future of the 6 model. While production in Japan is coming to an end, it’s important to acknowledge that the car will still be available in other countries. Unfortunately, this also means that many global markets that currently receive the Japanese-manufactured version may have to say goodbye to the vehicle.

Source: Mazda