Mazda’s latest creation is here, and it looks even sharper than before. The 6e sedan already boasted sleek styling and a refined interior, but it was crying out for a sportier edge, think something along the lines of BMW’s M Sport trim. Well, Mazda listened and has finally delivered.

The Japanese automaker and Changan have come up with the EZ-6 Sports Edition for the Chinese market, EZ-6 being the Asian name for the car we in the West know as the 6e.

Related: 2026 Mazda 6e EV Debuts In Europe To Battle The Tesla Model 3

Black exterior brightwork, gloss black 19-inch alloy wheels and red brake calipers help the Sports Edition stand out from more laid-back EZ-6 models from the outside, and the performance vibe continues inside through the use of Alcantara upholstery and flashes of red on the seat stitching and seats.

Mazda has also added red backlighting for the interior surfaces and a mesh-look aplique for the console that looks very similar to the trim pattern used on sportier CX-60 grades. The same 14.6-inch infotainment screen used on other EZ-6/6es, a 50-inch augmented reality head-up display powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chip, and a 14-speaker Sony audio system come standard, according to Car News China.

Photos Mazda Changan

The Sports Edition was revealed at the Shanghai Auto Show last month but managed to slip under our radar. Mazda and Changan didn’t specify whether it was packing more power than the stock sedan, but we suspect this is merely a trim package. We also strongly suspect Mazda will very soon launch a similar trim option for the European market 6e – Car News China reports that the Sports Edition was jointly developed by Mazda and Changan in China and Mazda Europe.

We’ve asked Mazda Europe about the powertrain, whether the Sports Edition is coming west, and what it’ll be called if it does, and we’ll let you know when we hear more.

One thing that will definitely be different about the Chinese and Western versions is the choice of powertrains, even though production for both models takes place in the same Changan plant. China’s EZ-6 is available with either a 1.5-liter range-extender setup making 215 hp (218 PS / 160 kW) or a 255 hp (258 PS / 190 kW) pure-battery alternative, but Europe’s 6Es are EV-only.

Photos Mazda

Changan

China’s auto industry is massive, fast-moving, and at times nearly impossible to follow without a flowchart and a magnifying glass. Even major Western players like Toyota and Volkswagen, both deeply entrenched in the market, operate multiple joint ventures that churn out overlapping models.

With hundreds of brands—many state-owned—jostling for space in an increasingly competitive market, the Chinese government is now pushing for a more streamlined approach. The aim is to consolidate key state-backed automakers to boost efficiency, reduce redundancy, and accelerate the country’s shift to electric vehicles.

Read: China’s Dongfeng Launches $25,000 Nammi Box EV In Europe

While speaking at a recent event in Beijing, the vice chairman of China’s state-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council called for automakers to restructure and realign operations. By pooling development and manufacturing resources, the thinking goes, these companies could become more competitive, especially against agile private-sector brands.

The commission oversees approximately 100 state-owned enterprises, such as Chongqing Changan Automobile, Dongfeng Motor Corp, and China FAW Group, Nikkei Asia reports.

Back in February, South China Morning Post reported that the government was considering placing Dongfeng and Changan under a single holding group. If that happens, the merged entity could surpass BYD and become China’s largest EV manufacturer, a significant shift in the landscape.

“The restructuring, if it materialises, would be a big step towards industry consolidation and of great importance to China’s auto industry for the longer term,” a Morgan Stanley analyst said of the potential deal.

Momentum Behind Consolidation

Last year, Changan sold 2.68 million vehicles, while Dongfeng sold 2.48 million. However, they have not kept pace with BYD in the transition to EVs, and missed their sales targets for EVs last year.

Ivan Li, a fund manager at Loyal Wealth Management, noted, “The two companies’ announcements apparently point to a potential merger of the state-owned parents, though they did not give a clear-cut word on it.” He added that the government likely sees consolidation as a way to reduce internal competition and better position the sector for long-term success.

Joint Ventures Still Play a Key Role

Despite underwhelming EV performance, both companies remain deeply integrated into China’s broader automotive ecosystem. Dongfeng maintains joint ventures with Nissan, Honda, Peugeot, and Citroen, while Changan partners with Ford and Mazda. These alliances may complicate any merger, but they also highlight the strategic value of both companies in the global market.