Mazda MX-5 wait times exceed 12 months on some models

Mazda Australia says it has no plans to pause orders for the 2023 Mazda MX-5 sports car even though wait times on some models stretch beyond 12 months.

The long queue for Mazda’s enduring sports car comes as the current model approaches its eighth year on sale, and reports for a new MX-5 in about two years from now, based on typical model schedules.

A notice on Mazda’s website advises of delivery times "much longer than usual" for MX-5 RF retractable hard-top models, and Mazda Australia managing director Vinesh Bhindi told Drive last week certain variants are facing wait times greater than one year.

It is unclear how many orders Mazda Australia is currently holding, however the company has delivered an average of 40 to 45 MX-5s per month since the start of last year – which could translate to several hundreds of orders.

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However, there appear to be no plans to pause orders for the MX-5 – unlike brands such as Toyota, Hyundai, Suzuki and Audi, which have stopped taking deposits for their most in-demand cars after wait times stretched beyond 12 to 24 months.

"We are absolutely telling our dealers and also our customers on our website that [for] certain models there is a long wait list. Some customers might say okay, I understand there is a waitlist, but I'd rather get in the queue. It's important for us to be very transparent," Mr Bhindi told Drive.

The current 'ND' generation Mazda MX-5 has been on sale in Australia since mid 2015, and was most recently given a mild update in early 2022 which axed the entry-level 1.5-litre engine, and added a Kinematic Posture Control system claimed to reduce body roll.

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The previous Mazda MX-5 had a life cycle of 10 years – so if the current model follows this trend, the next-generation MX-5 (expected to be codenamed NE or NG) is due in two years from now.

Mazda has not confirmed any details about the new model, however it is expected to adopt some form of hybrid power to meet the latest European emissions regulations.

It is expected the next-generation Mazda MX-5 will be developed in house by Mazda – and funded wholly by the Japanese company – compared to today's model, which was developed with Italy's Fiat, spawning the Fiat 124 Spider and an Abarth performance version.