Subaru Reveals Future Plans In The UK

Subaru Solterra EV 2024. (Doc. Subaru)

JAKARTA - Automotive manufacturer from Japan, Subaru will release two of the latest electric cars in the UK in 2026 as an effort to continue Solterra's success in the country.

This plan is part of an electrification investment of the brand worth 8 billion pounds (Rp160.9 trillion), which is to introduce the seven newest EVs globally with three of them in the form of SUVs developed with Toyota.

Managing Director of Subaru UKul Bishton, did not provide further details on this matter but still prioritized the core of brand values, namely "Safe, Tough, and Fun".

Reporting from Autocar, Wednesday, August 14, all additional models in the future are expected in the form of a hatchback that focuses on practicality and four-wheeled movements like other Subaru models.

In the land of king Charles, the six-star manufacturer has 65 dealer networks. According to brand recognition, several dealers are recognized as community pillars of Subaru so that the relationship between the dealer and the buyer is so close.

This relationship between dealers and customers is important in the success of Subaru in bringing in EVs in the future because it gets extra support from many parties.

"Customers need people they trust, who they have known for a long time, to help them on their way to the adoption of the electric vehicle," Bishton said.

So far, Solterra's sales account for 27 percent of Subaru's sales in the UK or exceed the 22 percent target that must be achieved in line with the mandate of the latest zero emission vehicle from the local government.

Bishton believes that the arrival of Subaru's new electric vehicle as well as the arrival of the latest generation of Foresters by the end of this year could grow sales volume compared to the previous few periods.

Last year, the brand managed to sell 2,400 cars in the UK and is inversely proportional to the United States (US) which reached around 600,000 units or accounted for 75 percent of global sales.

Subaru estimates global sales will reach one million by 2024 and gain big profits from year to year around 30 percent in the UK from January to June.

However, Subaru had to face a number of challenges in the UK in the form of limited supply over the next few months that could potentially slow down the growth curve.

Although the sales were very small, the manufacturer received a rapid increase compared to the 2020 acquisition when it was hit by a pandemic of only 951 units or showed a decrease of 68 percent.

"Especially with Japanese manufacturers, many of these learnings come from car development, and in particular with some series they follow on the BEV side. We have an extraordinary legacy, we are still involved and this brand can thrive," concluded Bishton.