- A mysterious Mazda has appeared in official sketches, resembling a subcompact crossover.
- The automaker will invest $150 million in Thailand for the production of electrified SUVs.
- Mazda’s CEO promises five new products by 2028, including hybrids and electric models.
Mazda may have quietly revealed a future SUV in official sketches that almost flew under the radar. The yet-unnamed model appears to have a compact footprint and features dual tailpipes, suggesting it’s not fully electric, though it could be a hybrid.
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The sketches surfaced during an official event in Thailand, where Mazda announced a 5 billion baht ($150 million) investment in manufacturing electrified SUVs. Despite the significance of the reveal, the automaker didn’t include the teasers in its press release.
Instead, they were spotted in a single photo shared by the Thailand Board of Investment, which shows Mazda President and CEO Masahiro Moro holding the illustrations alongside Thailand’s Prime Minister, Paetongtarn Shinawatra.
More: Everything We Know About The 2026 Mazda CX-5 Hybrid
After zooming in and digitally enhancing the photo, it is clear that the pictured SUV is not a member of the current lineup. The lime green model adopts the latest evolution of Mazda’s styling language and has a sporty stance. However, design sketches are often exaggerated, featuring oversized wheels and dramatic proportions that rarely make it to production, making it difficult to pinpoint exactly what model is shown.
From the front, the SUV bears similarities to the next-gen Mazda CX-5, which has been spotted testing ahead of its expected debut later this year. However, the rest of the vehicle tells a different story, as the coupe-like roofline and smaller circular taillights suggest a departure from Mazda’s usual SUV styling.
There’s speculation that this could be a successor to the aging CX-3 or the slightly larger CX-30. Meanwhile, Japanese website Creative Trend has floated the idea of an even smaller Mazda CX-20, though no official confirmation exists for such a project.
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Mazda’s CEO reinforced the possibility of a new small SUV, stating, “We will introduce electrified products that are unique to Mazda to meet the requests of Thai customers as electrification progresses, and we will strengthen our role as an export base for small cars, mainly for the Japanese and ASEAN markets.”
BEV, PHEV, and Hybrid SUVs For Thailand
Our colleagues from Thai website Autolife were invited in the press conference on February 14, giving us more details about Mazda’s future plans in the region. During the event, the Mazda CEO announced the launch of five new products in Thailand over the next three years, with their silhouettes appearing in the background.
The first one is the fully electric Mazda 6e sedan that will hit the Thai market in 2025. Next year, Mazda will introduce a new fully electric SUV – likely the Changan-based Mazda CX-6e – together with a larger plug-in hybrid SUV that looks like the CX-80.
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These will be followed by two additional SUVs with self-charging hybrid setups, scheduled for release in 2027 and 2028 respectively. It’s worth noting that the launch dates refer to the Thai market, so one of the hybrids could be the upcoming CX-5 that will be unveiled in Japan in late 2025.
Mazda’s investment in Thailand will enable the production of up to 100,000 vehicles per year, intended for both domestic sales and export markets. With an expanding electrified lineup and a new strategy for the region, Mazda’s presence in the ASEAN market is set to grow significantly
Photos: Thailand Board of Investment
