• The Mazda6 is the latest victim of the Australian Design Rule 98/00 concerning ADAS.
  • The aging model was in its twilight years, having been discontinued from most markets.
  • Mazda Australia has secured a “healthy supply” across all grades in local dealerships.

Mazda has announced it will officially retire the Mazda6 sedan and station wagon from the Australian market, citing compliance issues with impending regulations, a move echoing Mitsubishi’s recent decision to axe three of its five models for similar reasons. Australia was one of the few markets where the aging Mazda6 was still available, as it was discontinued in most regions, including North America, back in 2021.

Despite the fact that the AU-spec Mazda6 sedan and wagon are equipped with features like Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB) and advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS), these systems fall short of meeting the Australian Design Rule 98/00 standards, which take effect on March 1, 2025. This regulatory hurdle has sealed the Mazda6’s fate in Australia, joining a growing list of discontinued models from other automakers facing similar challenges.

Demand Was Barely Hanging On

While production of the Mazda6 has already ended, the company says it has secured a “healthy supply” of units in all trims for the Australian market. This means if you’re feeling nostalgic, or just contrarian enough to resist the SUV takeover, you can still snag one while inventory lasts.

More: New Mazda CX-5 Spied, Coming With Big Changes In Tow

The Mazda6 enjoyed a solid 22-year run in Australia, selling nearly 150,000 units across three generations since its launch in 2002. Its peak came in 2005 with 15,000 units sold, but the story in recent years tells a different tale. As noted by CarExpert, the Mazda6 sold only 1,354 units in Australia in 2024, underlining the shrinking demand for midsize sedans in a world increasingly dominated by SUVs.

Mazda6 20th Anniversary Edition

The official announcement doesn’t mention a successor, simply stating that the brand “shifts its focus to further improving its multi-solution strategy” offering models with ICE, mild-hybrid, and PHEV powertrains.

Vinesh Bhindi, managing director of Mazda Australia, stated: “We owe a lot to Mazda6 in helping to make the Mazda brand what it is today… While we have seen the market shift its preference towards SUVs in recent years, the Mazda6 has always been – and continues to be – held in particularly high regard by loyal enthusiasts and keen drivers alike… 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.”

The Twilight Years Of The Midsize Sedan

The current generation of the Mazda6 debuted in 2012, followed by facelifts in 2015 and 2018. Despite its updates, the midsize sedan became another casualty of the SUV boom, exiting the US and Canadian markets in 2021, the UK in 2023, and Japan in 2024.

 Mazda6 Dropped From Australia, One Of The Few Places It Was Still Available

Following its departure from Australia, the aging model remains available in a few markets around the world, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand, though its days are undoubtedly numbered.

More: Want A RWD Mazda6 With An Inline-Six? Buy Fewer SUVs, Says Mazda

Rumors of a rear-wheel-drive Mazda6 successor, powered by a six-cylinder engine, have been circulating for years but have yet to materialize. Instead, Mazda has channeled its energy into bolstering its SUV lineup,

In 2024, Mazda introduced the EZ-6 sedan in China, based on Changan underpinnings with pure-electric and range-extender powertrain options. The fully electric version, dubbed the Mazda 6e, was recently introduced in Europe and the UK, serving as an indirect replacement to the ICE-powered sedan and a rival to the Tesla Model 3. At the moment, it is not clear if and when it will reach Australian shores.