Expanding The Line Of Electric Vehicles, Subaru Plans To Present A Three-line Electric SUV In The US

Subaru Solterra. (Doc. Subaru)

JAKARTA - Subaru is one of many Japanese car manufacturers who are trying to expand the ranks of electric vehicles (EVs). In fact, the manufacturer, which is synonymous with blue, has had strategic plans for EVs in the future.

Currently, Subaru only has one EV model unit, namely Solterra. The electric-powered SUV is a base with an EV from Toyota, bZ4x, thanks to the partnership between the two companies.

Not wanting to depend on Solterra, Subaru is rumored to be building a new three-line EV crossover. Later, Subaru will return to work with Toyota in building this electrification vehicle.

Reporting from Automotive News, Tuesday, August 1, the vehicle will be built at a Toyota factory in the Kentucky, USA region. Validation from this news is increasingly sticking out because last June, Toyota is also planning to build a three-line car in the future.

It is reported that the three-line crossover is the successor to the bZ4x called bZ5x, while the premium Lexus brand will use the TZ trademark in its electric vehicle SUV.

Both the three-line SUVs from Toyota, Lexus, and Subaru, will return to carrying the same platform. The platform is the latest generation being developed by Toyota. The bZ5x SUV will be the first US-made EV powered by a battery manufactured from the North Carolina plant.

Thus, the production of the three-line EV SUV will begin in 2025. This will be an alternative option as a substitute for the Ascent model that has been produced since 2018. However, it is not yet known whether the EV will immediately replace Ascent or inherit its name into a new model.

With the presence of the three-line electric SUV, this could smooth out its ambitious plans from Subaru which will sell 600,000 battery-powered electric cars annually starting in 2030. This step was taken with the aim of making electric cars contribute 50% of the global sales target of Subaru.

They plan to present three new electric car models by the end of 2026 and four additional models by the end of 2028.

With this new target, Subaru, known for its dependence on the North American market, is following in the footsteps of larger Japanese automakers such as Toyota in intensifying its electrification efforts.

This is certainly not surprising because some of Subaru's share ownership is owned by Toyota. What's more, the demand for electric vehicles in the US is getting higher.