Subaru has set ambitious goals for its future in the automotive industry. The company plans to sell a staggering 200,000 battery-electric cars per year by 2026, with further plans to increase production capacity to 400,000 BEVs annually by 2028. This significant boost in production will be supported by the establishment of an EV-only factory in Subaru’s home country.
The upcoming changes in Subaru’s leadership also shed light on their electrification strategy. Atsushi Osaki, who will assume the role of CEO in June, revealed to Reuters that initially, half of the 400,000 BEVs will be produced on mixed production lines shared with petrol vehicles, while the other half will be manufactured in a dedicated all-electric car factory. This new facility is scheduled to open its doors in 2027, situated in Japan’s Gunma prefecture.
Presently, Subaru has only one all-electric model available in the market, the electric SUV Solterra. However, it is worth noting that this vehicle is built upon Toyota’s eTNGA platform and bears resemblance to the Toyota bZ4X. Subaru’s venture into producing its own electric vehicles will commence in 2025 on the mixed production line mentioned earlier, with the BEV-only plant following suit two years later. Specific details regarding the models to be produced in these facilities are not yet disclosed.
Osaki emphasized the company’s desire to create a flexible production system that can adapt to changing regulations and market trends. The aim is to establish a production system capable of adjusting the output ratio of battery EVs, hybrids, and gasoline cars accordingly. This approach demonstrates Subaru’s commitment to remaining agile and responsive in a rapidly evolving industry.
Reuters reports that Subaru heavily relies on the sales of its Outback crossover, particularly in the North American market. In the fiscal year ending on March 31, 2023, Subaru achieved global sales of 852,000 cars, with the US accounting for 70% of that figure. With a production capacity of 400,000 BEVs, Subaru could potentially cover a significant portion of its sales with electric vehicles, marking a substantial shift in their overall product lineup.
