Mazda has cancelled the launch of the new CX-80, which would have been its first seven-seater SUV in South Africa.
The CX-80 was confirmed for a local introduction in August 2023, with Managing Director of Mazda Southern Africa, Craig Roberts, stating that it would land in showrooms in the second quarter of 2024 and feature a plug-in hybrid powertrain, another first for the brand in the domestic market.
With this deadline now passed and the CX-80 yet to arrive, TopAuto got in touch with the automaker to find out what’s been the hold-up.
In response, a spokesperson for the brand said: “The CX-80 launch for the South African market has been indefinitely postponed.”
“Mazda’s decision has been to await future products in the NEV (new-energy vehicle) space that will be better suited to the required more affordable price positioning and segments in the South African market.”
The wording of this statement suggests that the SUV would likely have been too pricey to be competitive in the cut-throat SUV segment.
Another Mazda, the BT-50 double cab, was recently discontinued in our market for the same reason.
In March, the company pulled the plug on the BT-50 stating that substantial import taxes rendered it far too expensive to be a real competitor in a category that is dominated by locally made models such as the Toyota Hilux, Ford Ranger, and Isuzu D-Max.
“The South African LCV, and in particular the double-cab market, is extremely well developed and competitive with locally manufactured brands and nameplates dominating sales,” said Roberts at the time.
“This factor, as well as an extremely challenging landscape for imported vehicles, competing directly with locally manufactured products, has led Mazda SA to make this difficult decision.”
This may very well have applied to the CX-80, too.
The SUV is assembled in Japan and would have attracted substantial import taxes when brought into South Africa, possibly to the tune of 42% of its entire price tag, putting it out of its own league.
A more affordable Mazda for South Africa?
One good thing that came from the axing of the CX-80 is that Mazda hinted it is now considering a more affordable NEV for South Africa, most likely a hybrid.
While there are currently no cheap hybrids in the Mazda stable, the Japanese manufacturer announced earlier this year that it will release a host of new NEVs between now and 2026 as part of its joint venture with Chinese automaker Changan, Australian publication Drive reports.
Given that South Africa has welcomed a hoard of new Chinese nameplates over the last few years that have gone on to reach great success, it’s not out of the question that these Changan-Mazda NEVs may eventually land on our roads.
In the pipeline are new sedans and SUVs running on a variety of hybrid and electric powertrains, and we’re willing to bet that one of them, most likely the SUV, will go on sale in South Africa in due course.
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