Just after the New Year, a 2025 Mazda CX-50 Turbo was discovered abandoned in a university parking lot in the United States, sparking widespread intrigue. The compact luxury SUV, which still had its protective stickers and plastic packaging intact, was found without a license plate, raising numerous questions about its unexpected abandonment.
The vehicle was first spotted on New Year’s Eve by Reddit user Jack Buckley, who described the car as appearing to be in “factory-fresh” condition with no signs of use. The mysterious discovery quickly gained attention across social media, as many speculated about how the vehicle ended up in such a situation.
A Brand-New Luxury SUV Left Behind
The vehicle spotted appears to be a 2025 Mazda CX-50 2.5 Turbo Premium model, painted in a luxurious Cypress Green color. The model falls into the luxury SUV lineup with a suggested retail price of $42,720.
One thing that stands out about the vehicle is that the seats and major parts were still wrapped in plastic. This seems to be a clue that the car was hardly used. Some are speculating that it may be a completely new vehicle.
The Mystery Deepens: What Happened to the Vehicle?
Buckley shared the absurd situation by posting a photo of the car on Reddit right after he found it. His post quickly became a national topic of conversation, garnering the attention of many car enthusiasts. He also received a lot of speculation and advice in the comments.
Some suggested contacting Mazda directly via the vehicle identification number (VIN) to trace the vehicle’s origin. Others suggested reporting it to the police, telling them the car may have been stolen or left unattended during transport.
Transport Mishap Likely Culprit Behind the Abandonment
Automotive experts have analyzed the abandoned CX-50 vehicle, which appears to have already completed a pre-delivery inspection (PDI), suggesting that the car was likely just before delivery from the dealership. However, the reason why the vehicle was left abandoned in the university parking lot remains unanswered.
The most likely scenario is that it was a mistake during transportation. The busy transporter may have temporarily parked the vehicle and tried to retrieve it later, forgetting to do so and, unfortunately, missing it. It remains to be seen when and who will recover this mystery vehicle.