Japanese carmaker Mazda has confirmed that its CX-5 crossover SUV has achieved a significant global milestone, with 5 million cumulative units produced and sold worldwide after the end of 2025. This makes the CX-5 the third Mazda model in history to reach the figure, following the Mazda 323 and the Mazda3. This achievement also highlights the CX-5 as the fastest SkyActiv-powered and Kodo-designed Mazda to breach the 5-million mark.
Production of the Mazda CX-5 began in 2011 at Mazda’s Ujina Plant No. 2 in Hiroshima, Japan. Over time, manufacturing has expanded to additional sites in Ujina Plant No. 1 and facilities in China, along with assembly operations in Malaysia and Vietnam. Those efforts supported the model’s expansion into more than 100 countries and regions, helping to establish it as Mazda’s best-selling vehicle in the current lineup.
The CX-5’s evolution over more than a decade highlights Mazda’s brand progression. Following its first-generation debut in 2011, the second-generation model was introduced in 2016. It earned widespread acclaim, including multiple years of “TOP SAFETY PICK+” ratings from the U.S. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). The all-new third generation was unveiled in Europe in July 2025, and was showcased during the year’s Japan Mobility Show. Mazda plans to introduce the latest-generation CX-5 to the North American and Japanese markets by late Q1 or early Q2 of 2026.
Sharing the CX-5’s latest achievement, Mazda’s Program Manager for the CX-5, Koichiro Yamaguchi, went on to say, “We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all customers and fans around the world who have supported the CX-5. The all-new CX-5 has been fully changed in eight years, further refining its sporty design and driving dynamics. We will continue to nurture the CX-5 carefully, aiming for it to be cherished for years to come.”
Building on the CX-5’s success, Mazda continues to champion its core company values of “Joy of Driving” and to create vehicles that resonate with customers’ lifestyles. The CX-5 milestone underscores the brand’s global appeal and sustained consumer demand for crossovers that balance sporty performance with practical utility.
Autocar’s Take
The Mazda CX-5’s achievement of five million units produced and sold is an important matter, not only to Mazda but also to the compact SUV segment at large. Its relatively swift ascent to the 5-million production and sales mark demonstrates consistent consumer demand for vehicles that offer sleek design, driving dynamics, and usability for daily driving.
Mazda’s strategy of refining the CX-5 rather than reinventing it has preserved the core attributes that resonate with buyers while integrating incremental enhancements to keep the model competitive. The introduction of the third-generation model, which focuses on comfort and a modernized interface, suggests that Mazda intends to sustain this momentum in an increasingly competitive market.
