Subaru Announces Mid-2030s Target For An All-Electric Lineup

Subaru Corporation needs to keep up with the global EV revolution and they have just announced a plan to do it. Subaru Corporation held a press briefing today spelling out their electrification plans and there are many changes coming for the Japanese automaker. President Tomomi Nakamura says Subaru will move quickly toward its long-term goal of a carbon-free society, setting a target to sell only electric vehicles worldwide by the first half of the 2030s.

Some things won’t be changing. Nakamura says in the midst of a once-in-a-century period of “profound transformation”, Subaru will stay true to its core values of using horizontally-opposed “Boxer” engines, all-wheel-drive (AWD) technologies, superior driving performance, and safety (EyeSight driver assist).

2020 Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid already uses Toyota technology

He went on to say, in this new era of mobility, the Subaru brand will strive to remain “different from other brands”, and will further hone the distinctive qualities that make a Subaru a Subaru, and will “maintain the unique attributes our customers have come to expect.”

With Toyota increasing its stake in Subaru to 20 percent, customers can look for Subaru to develop a new hybrid vehicle using Toyota technology that will debut later in the decade. Subaru did not say if the hybrid would be an existing nameplate like Outback or Forester. Chief Technology Officer Tetsuo Onuki said at the briefing, "Although we're using Toyota technology, we want to make hybrids that are distinctly Subaru.”

Subaru and Toyota will develop an all-electric Subaru model

Even more changes are coming as Subaru will also collaborate with Toyota to develop its first all-electric all-wheel-drive vehicle for release around the same time (later this decade). This will be a vehicle that is distinctively a Subaru.

Other details emerged from the announcement, and Subaru spelled out the following long-term goals moving the global agenda towards achieving a carbon-free society.

By 2030, 40 percent of all Subaru global sales will come from electric vehicles (EVs) or hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). By the first half of the 2030s, all Subaru vehicles sold worldwide will have either hybrid power or all-electric technology. Subaru Corporation will reduce its CO2 emissions from new vehicles (in operation) sold worldwide by 90 percent or more by 2050 compared to 2010 levels.

In addition to its commitment to sell only electric vehicles worldwide by the first half of the 2030s, Subaru will also reduce emissions at its factories and offices to 30 percent below 2017 levels by 2031.

Customers can look for new hybrid and all-electric all-wheel vehicles to arrive soon, and existing nameplates like Outback wagon, Forester compact SUV, and Ascent family hauler models will be electrified by the first half of the 2030s.

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Denis Flierl has invested nearly 30 years in the automotive industry in a variety of roles. All of his reports are archived on our Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Subaru Report. Check back tomorrow for more Subaru news and updates at Torque News!

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Photo credit: Subaru USA, Subaru Corporation