Vinesh Bhindi from Mazda on the Miata electric: "We don’t see that many customers coming into the dealership and saying, ‘An electric MX-5?’

06/10/2026 12:30

Updated to

06/10/2026 12:30

Mazda is beginning to receive a clear signal about the future of the MX-5: its customers do not seem to be demanding an electric version. Vinesh Bhindi, CEO of Mazda Australia, says the opposite is true at dealerships, with current owners asking when they can purchase a new generation that retains the roadster’s analog characteristics. Mazda’s challenge will be maintaining the lightweight design, manual transmission, and rear-wheel drive layout while meeting increasingly strict emission standards, especially in Europe.

That conflict could end up being far more important than increasing power. The Mazda MX-5 has never based its appeal on offering the best absolute performance, but rather on combining low weight, compact size, rear-wheel drive, and a mechanical, direct driving experience.

And according to Mazda, that is exactly what their customers want to keep.

Mazda says it rarely hears this request

During the Australian launch of the new Mazda CX-6e electric vehicle, Bhindi explained in remarks cited by CarExpert that conversations at dealerships do not indicate strong demand for an electric Mazda MX-5.

We don’t see many customers coming to the dealership and saying, ‘An electric MX-5? That would be perfect for me.’”

The executive says the opposite is true: “Right now, it’s the current MX-5 owners who are asking, When can I get the purely analog version of the next generation?”

According to Bhindi, that is “probably the most common conversation in dealerships these days, rather than discussions about electrification.”

This statement doesn’t mean Mazda has ruled out introducing some level of electrification. The real challenge is doing so without changing the car’s character too much.

The goal remains around 1,000 kilograms

Mazda wants the future convertible to maintain a weight of approximately 1,000 kilograms or even less—a figure that’s particularly difficult to achieve if a large battery is added.

A plug-in hybrid seems incompatible with this philosophy: the battery, electric motor, and electronics would add weight and take up valuable space in such a compact vehicle.

Therefore, if electrification is ultimately needed to meet regulations, a lightweight hybrid solution appears conceptually much more coherent. For now, however, Mazda has not confirmed which path it will take.

A larger engine in an era of electrification

Paradoxically, Mazda is also working on an engine design that could increase its displacement.

The new 2.5-liter naturally aspirated Mazda Skyactiv-Z engine will initially debut in the CX-5, paired with a hybrid system developed by the brand itself. Everything suggests this engine family might eventually be used in future Mazda MX-5 models, though there is no definitive confirmation yet.

Mazda has previously advocated for maintaining essential features such as a manual transmission and rear-wheel drive.

Europe will be one of the biggest obstacles

The current generation has already suffered due to European regulations. The Mazda MX-5 lost its 2.0-liter engine in this market and now uses a 1.5-liter engine instead.

The next generation still seems relatively far off and could take at least a couple of years.

That timeframe will allow Mazda to try to resolve a particularly delicate contradiction: adding the electrification needed to keep the Miata viable without turning it into the heavy, complex, and less analog vehicle that its own customers say they don’t want.