Mazda MX-30 Electric safe in Australia despite axing in the US

The quirky Mazda MX-30 hybrid and electric small SUV will remain on sale in Australia despite its death in the US, according to Mazda Australia.

Mazda has announced the MX-30 will be discontinued in the US after Model Year 2023 production ceases in the coming months – where it is sold as an electric car only – amid sluggish sales, a high price and just 161km of claimed driving range.

The Japanese car-maker has reported just 66 examples of the Mazda MX-30 as sold in the US in the first half of this year, compared to 324 in full-year 2022, and 181 in full-year 2021.

For context, Lamborghini reported 1625 deliveries in the US in the first half of this year.

Despite the US news, Mazda Australia says it has no plans to discontinue the MX-30 in Australia, in mild-hybrid petrol or electric form.

"We recently launched a minor update to the model locally and it continues to be sold to our expectations," a company spokesperson told Drive.

In the US the Mazda MX-30 Electric is sold exclusively in California – where there are fuel-economy standards to meet, and generous incentives for electric cars – and is priced from $US34,110 ($AU50,400) before on-road costs.

It is nearly as expensive as a Tesla Model 3 ($US40,240, or $AU59,500) which is a larger vehicle with nearly three times as much claimed EPA driving range, at 272 miles (438km) compared to just 100 miles (161km).

"Mazda will discontinue MX-30 EV for the US market following the 2023 model year," Mazda US said in a media statement.

"Our current US electrification efforts are focused on large platform [plug-in hybrids, or PHEVs], such as the first-ever 2024 CX-90 PHEV and upcoming CX-70 PHEV, as well as introducing CX-50 Hybrid into our line-up to address the specific needs of the US market."

In Australia, Mazda reported 312 MX-30s as sold over the first half of this year – just three of which were electric, each priced from $65,490 plus on-road costs.

Mazda Australia has reported 121 MX-30 Electrics as sold since it arrived in showrooms exactly two years ago – compared to 1486 mild-hybrids over the same period.

Drive reported last year on heavy discounts of up to $15,000 – or 20 per cent off the retail price – being offered by Mazda dealers for low-kilometre 'demonstrator' examples in an attempt to clear stock.

The price has risen to $66,410 plus on-road costs for an updated model that arrived in showrooms in recent weeks – or about $9000 more expensive than a Tesla Model 3 rear-wheel drive, which now costs $57,400 plus on-road costs, and claims 491km of WLTP driving range.

In Australia the MX-30 claims 233km of driving range due to more lenient test protocols.

The MX-30 was unveiled in 2019 as Mazda's first electric car, before adding a mild-hybrid petrol engine in some countries in 2020, and a rotary-engined range-extender option in Europe earlier this year.

The range-extender model is yet to be confirmed for Australia.