Follow us today...
The 2023 Subaru Solterra is the Japanese automaker's first all-electric model, which was scheduled to arrive last month. There are no new Solterra EVs anywhere to be found in the U.S. or around the globe yet. What happened to the Solterra, and why are there more delays?
Subaru announced earlier this month the Solterra was recalled due to a wheel defect that could cause the wheels to come loose. It was an embarrassment to Subaru and Toyota, who jointly made the new Solterra and Toyota bZ4X EVs.
Around 2,600 Solterra EVs were recalled because of a risk the wheels could come loose due to an issue with the wheels bolts. Subaru submitted the Solterra recall to Japan's transportation ministry that said sharp turns and sudden braking could cause a hub bolt to loosen, raising the risk of a wheel coming off the vehicle. Subaru and Toyota said they are unaware of any accidents caused by the defect.
All the Solterra models recalled have still not been fixed and were scheduled to be the first models delivered to Subaru of America's retailers for testing and display purposes. But none have arrived on U.S. shores.
When will customers get the 2023 Solterra they ordered?
A source close to Subaru told us the Solterra display vehicles were supposed to arrive in showrooms in August or September and are further delayed. And now they don't have a delivery date from Subaru Corporation. So there is no indication when the models that were ordered by customers back in February will arrive.
The Solterra wheel defect sounds like an easy fix, but it's not. A recent report from Seeking Alpha says all of the first Solterra and bZ4x models that rolled off the assembly line cannot be fixed. The report says Toyota states that there is no remedy to cure the faulty wheels available at this time, and customers will receive a replacement vehicle pending a resolution of the problem.
Subaru Corporation will produce less than 7,000 Solterra models for the entire calendar year 2022. Seeking Alpha says Subaru will produce 6,500 Solterra EVs in 2022. Subaru of America has already sold its initial allotment of Solterra EVs to U.S. customers.
When will the 2023 Solterra be available for U.S. customers?
The 2023 Subaru Solterra should have begun to arrive in the U.S. in August or September in limited numbers, but the new recall and fixing of the wheel problem will further delay shipments of the new EV. Stay tuned.
You Might Also Like: Why It’s Now A Smart Move For Subaru To Pull Away From Toyota And Make Its Own EVs
Denis Flierl has invested over 30 years in the automotive industry in a consulting role working with every major car brand. He is an accredited member of the Rocky Mountain Automotive Press. Check out Subaru Report where he covers all of the Japanese automaker's models. More stories can be found on the Torque News Subaru page. Follow Denis on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
Subaru Report - We’ve got you covered! Check back tomorrow for more unique, informative SUBARU news, reviews, and previews you can trust.
Leave your comments below, share the article with friends and tweet it out to your followers!
Photo credit: Subaru USA
Follow us today...
