Despite cut from USA, the Mazda CX-3 and Mazda 6 will remain in Malaysia

Last week, Mazda USA announced that it will be dropping the Mazda CX-3 and Mazda 6 from its local line-up, and didn’t announce any replacement models to fill the void.

Mazda didn’t do give any reasons for the discontinuation of these two models, merely saying “As consumer interests continue to evolve, Mazda will discontinue CX-3 and Mazda 6 for the 2022 model year for the US market.”

Naturally, this raised questions pertaining the two models’ future in Malaysia.

We have now received confirmation from Mazda that both the CX-3 and Mazda 6 will remain on sale not just in Malaysia, but also the rest of the ASEAN region, as well as other major Mazda markets including Japan and Australia (where Mazda is the No.1 brand for private buyers).

A Mazda spokesperson told WapCar.my that the adjustment to Mazda's model line-up in the USA has no relation to Mazda’s operations in Malaysia (and the rest of South East Asia).

For Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, both the Mazda CX-3 and Mazda 6 are imported from Japan.

For Thailand, only the Mazda 6 is imported from Japan. The Mazda CX-3, (and the CX-30) are locally-assembled at the Ford-Mazda co-owned Auto Alliance Thailand plant in Rayong. The plant also makes the Mazda 2 and Mazda 3.

The Mazda BT-50 is produced at Isuzu's plant in Samut Prakan, which also makes the Isuzu D-Max.

It should also be noted that Thailand’s CX-5 and CX-8 models are imported from Malaysia, which also counts Indonesia and Philippines as export destinations.

Mazda is expected to launch at least two rear-wheel models – a sedan and an SUV – by 2022. Whether will this rear-wheel drive sedan replace the Mazda 6, or sit above the 6, is still left to be seen.

Also read: Look hard enough, and you will see the all-new 2022 Mazda 6’s inline 6-cylinder engine