Mazda may soon add a very unusual vehicle to its lineup in China: an SUV that can transform into a pickup truck.
The vehicle is expected to come from one of Mazda’s Chinese partners rather than being designed entirely in-house.
Automakers in China frequently collaborate with local manufacturers to bring new models to market quickly, and Mazda has several joint ventures in the region.
But let’s talk about that form factor…
Start with a midsize SUV, then design the rear section so it can convert into an open cargo bed. In everyday use it behaves like a normal family crossover. When needed, it can essentially turn into a small pickup.
If that sounds familiar, it’s because the concept sits somewhere in the same strange automotive category once occupied by vehicles like the El Camino. Half car, half truck, slightly confusing but oddly practical. You could almost call this the Chinese electric El Camino.
Vehicles that combine those two roles have appeared before in different forms, but the idea is gaining new attention as manufacturers experiment with modular vehicle platforms and new body styles.
Mazda has been expanding its presence in China’s rapidly evolving EV market, often relying on partnerships with local companies to accelerate development. If this model moves forward, it would likely follow that same strategy, with Mazda branding applied to a vehicle largely developed by its Chinese partner.
The result could be one of the more unusual additions to the electric vehicle landscape: an EV that can switch between SUV and pickup duties depending on what the day requires.
