The Mazda BT-50 pickup is set for another generation after Mazda executives confirmed that a successor is coming. The announcement arrives as the BT-50 marks 20 years on the market, although several hurdles could make bringing the truck back to the U.S. difficult.
Mazda BT-50 Confirmed for a New Generation
The Mazda BT-50 has been around since 2006, when its first generation arrived. The second-generation model followed in 2011, with both generations based on the global-market Ford Ranger.
That truck was significantly different and more modern than the U.S.-market Ranger used as the basis for the U.S.-market Mazda B-Series. In 2020, Mazda changed direction and based the BT-50 on the Isuzu D-Max pickup.
With BT-50 generations lasting between five and nine years, the current model could have only a couple of years left at most. Questions about its replacement were raised with Mazda executives by a reporter from Australian car news site CarsGuide.
Vinesh Bhindi, head of Mazda in Australia, and Eiji Kimoto, designer of the BT-50 and CX-6e, both confirmed that another generation is coming. Neither executive provided further details.
Two Possible Paths for the Next BT-50
The next BT-50 could continue using the Isuzu D-Max as its foundation. Another possibility would be for Mazda to use the Changan Hunter K50 as the basis for the pickup, following Mazda’s use of Changan models for the 6e and CX-6e.
Continuing with Isuzu would provide Mazda with a truck platform backed by the brand’s reputation for trucks and its long working relationship with Mazda. Using Changan, meanwhile, could give Mazda access to the K50’s range-extended electric powertrain as well as conventional diesel engines.
Could Mazda Bring the BT-50 Back to America?
The U.S. small truck market is stronger than it has been in decades. Ford, GM, Toyota, Nissan, Jeep and Honda are offering their own approaches to small and midsize pickups, with many of their models experiencing growth.
The market has also become strong enough that Hyundai has confirmed it will launch its own competitor by the end of the decade. That creates an opportunity for Mazda to consider returning to the American truck market.
However, the BT-50 faces several major obstacles. The Isuzu D-Max is not sold in the U.S., and no other company sells a version of it in the country. As a result, the truck was not designed to meet U.S. safety regulations.
The D-Max also currently uses only diesel engines. Certifying those engines for the U.S. could be difficult, while diesel powertrains may not be as attractive to American buyers as gas engines.
Switching to Changan would create additional complications because the U.S. has steep tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. Changan also offers a diesel variant without the K50 suffix and with slightly different styling, but it would face the same emissions certification issues as the Isuzu.
Why a Mazda Pickup May Not Fit Its U.S. Strategy
There is also a question of whether a Mazda pickup would fit the image the company is pursuing in the U.S. Mazda has been working to move its cars upmarket, while American automakers have found success with more luxurious pickup trucks.
GMC, for example, offers its small Canyon pickup with a plush Denali trim. Even so, a body-on-frame pickup would still be an unusual fit for a brand such as BMW or Acura, illustrating the challenge Mazda would face if it attempted to position a truck within its U.S. lineup.
Mazda has confirmed that another generation of the BT-50 is coming, but the company has not provided further details about the next pickup. Its eventual platform and powertrain choices will determine what direction the BT-50 takes as it moves beyond its current generation.
