Mazda predicts that global demand for SUVs will continue to climb. Small crossovers in Europe and China are driving the next boom.
In Australia, CX-6e pre-orders are already outpacing the 6e sedan. Anyone betting that the SUV craze has finally crested should think again.
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Mazda sees the curve still pointing upward. The company expects SUV sales to keep climbing worldwide.
The prediction carries weight given its source: Hiroshi Ozawa, General Manager of the Changan Mazda Automobile Technical Development Center.
He is responsible for the fully electric 6e and CX-6e models.
When asked by Australian media CarSales if the market was approaching peak SUV, Ozawa said: “Globally, I believe that the SUV will still grow.
That’s our projection. The small SUV… that segment is the fastest-growing SUV.”
Those remarks hint at Mazda’s next goal: a successor to the aging CX-3 positioned below the CX-30 in global markets.
Ozawa revealed that demand for small SUVs is being driven by Europe, with China also contributing to the segment’s growth.
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Mazda's Own Sales Data Supports the Forecast
In Australia, the 6e sedan pulled 700 pre-orders while the mechanically-related CX-6e cleared more than 1,000.
Even within the same showroom and platform, buyers gravitated toward the taller body.
Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi said buyers Down Under “love midsize SUVs.” The numbers leave little room for argument even as passenger cars stage a modest comeback.
SUVs make up almost 63 percent of new vehicle sales in Australia so far this year.
That explains why the crossover keeps winning when a customer has to choose.
Globally, Mazda’s lineup is dominated by SUVs. The CX-3, CX-30, CX-50, and CX-5 are joined by the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80, and CX-90 quartet.
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As for cars, the only ones left are the soon-to-be-discontinued Mazda2, the Mazda3, the Mazda6e, and the MX-5.
