Mazda 6e — Japanese Carmakers Fight Back in Australia

This is car news out of Australia, not directly about home energy upgrades, but worth noting for anyone tracking the electric vehicle market. Mazda's new electric sedan, the 6e, is selling for about AU$54,000 and has drawn attention for its design, even winning a 2026 World Car of Year award. It's built in China by Changan on the Deepal platform, though Mazda designed the styling. The car runs a 70 kWh LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery with 560 km of range and comes with features like heated and cooled seats, a 360-degree camera, and over-the-air software updates you can install at home.

The bigger picture: Japanese brands are struggling to keep pace with Chinese and Tesla EV sales in Australia. Combined 2026 sales from Toyota, Subaru, Nissan, Mazda, and Suzuki electric models add up to roughly the same number as Tesla sold with the Model 3 alone. That gap matters if you're shopping around, since it points to Chinese-made and Tesla models currently offering the widest selection and strongest sales momentum in the EV space.

None of this changes home energy programs or rebates, but if you're weighing an EV purchase alongside home upgrades like a heat pump or added insulation, it's a reminder that pricing and features in the EV market are shifting fast, and it's worth comparing current models rather than assuming last year's lineup or prices still apply.