In December, Subaru of America reported a total of 56,760 vehicle sales, an increase of 11% from the previous year. This marks the fifth consecutive month of increased sales for the brand, despite the challenges of the past year. For the full year of 2021, Subaru saw a total of 556,581 sales in the United States, representing a 4.7% decrease from the previous year.
In December, the all-new, all-electric Subaru Solterra model saw relatively good sales in the US, with 825 units sold in its first full month on the market. This was higher than the 634 units sold of its Toyota bZ4X cousin. This internal competition between the two models will be interesting to watch.
The Solterra made up about 1.5% of Subaru’s total sales for the month, although it should be noted that Subaru does not report sales specifically for its plug-in hybrid models, such as the Crosstrek Hybrid. These sales are instead grouped together with other Crosstrek versions.
By the end of 2022, a total of 919 Subaru Solterra electric vehicles had been sold, compared to 1,220 Toyota bZ4X models. If sales continue at the same rate as in December, it is expected that the Solterra will surpass 10,000 units sold by the end of 2023.
The 2023 Subaru Solterra has a starting MSRP of $44,995, which includes a destination charge of $1,225. It is equipped with a 72.8 kWh battery and a dual motor all-wheel drive system that delivers 160 kW of power. The EPA estimates that the Solterra has a combined range of 228 miles. It is worth noting that the Solterra may not be eligible for the $7,500 federal tax credit due to the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA), which could affect its competitiveness in the US market.
The Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid plug-in hybrid, which has been available for a few years, is a low-volume model that uses components from the Toyota Prius Prime and has an EPA-estimated EV range of 17 miles. It has a starting MSRP of $36,845, including a destination charge of $1,225.
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