Subaru unveils its first self-developed electric-vehicle platform
Subaru displayed a test vehicle built on a new in-house EV platform, marking its first electric model not co-developed with Toyota and targeting sales from 2029.
Subaru has revealed a trial car built on a new electric-vehicle platform that it developed without Toyota’s involvement, signaling a shift toward independent EV engineering. The prototype, fitted with an Outback-type body and a longer wheelbase, was driven on a Japanese test track and features two Aisin e-axle drive units producing 150 kW at the front and 230 kW at the rear, for a total of 380 kW and sub-four-second 0-100 km/h acceleration.
The test model uses a Panasonic-sourced battery pack of 4,000 cylindrical cells, claimed to be 25 % lighter than previous units. Subaru plans to roll out vehicles on this platform beginning in 2029, while its current EV lineup - the Solterra, Trailseeker and Uncharted - remains based on Toyota collaborations. Executives Takatomo Watamori and Atsushi Osaki said the strategy aims to give Subaru control over EV technology and to meet a revised target of 50 % EV sales after 2030, with a reallocation of a ¥1.5 trillion investment toward both next-generation electrics and advanced combustion engines.
Why it matters
Subaru's new EV platform shows the company moving toward independent electric-car development, affecting its future product line and market strategy.
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