Subaru is exploring the possibility of launching a smaller, more affordable electric vehicle (EV) to expand its lineup and meet growing demand in the lower end of the EV market, a company executive said.
The consideration follows the unveiling of the Subaru Uncharted, the brand’s latest electric SUV. In an interview with Autocar, Subaru’s global EV product manager Inoue Masahiko said a smaller EV positioned below the Uncharted is “something that is up for consideration, because we need to prepare a wider range of BEVs to meet every customer’s expectation.”
Subaru joins a growing list of global automakers pursuing lower-cost EVs in response to strong consumer demand. Renault’s 5 EV, priced at £22,995 ($31,100), has become the most popular electric vehicle among private buyers in the UK, with more than 35,000 units sold this year. Kia’s EV3 and Hyundai’s Inster have also gained early traction, ranking among Europe’s top-selling EVs in recent months.
While the new entry-level Subaru EV is still in the planning stages, the company signaled that any launch is unlikely to occur before the end of the decade. David Dello Stritto, Subaru’s European chief, told Autocar that a B-segment EV was “worth exploring,” but added, “We might have come up with new ideas during that period, so in two years’ time we can talk again.”
Subaru’s expanding collaboration with Toyota may play a role in developing the potential new model. Toyota’s product chief Andrea Carlucci also confirmed that a fully electric successor to the Yaris was under consideration, though it remained “not quite now.”
Subaru currently offers three electric models in Europe: the Solterra, the new Uncharted SUV, and the E-Outback, which will be sold in the U.S. under the name Trailseeker.