Toyota and Subaru, long-time partners in the automotive industry, have announced that they will be collaborating on three new electric vehicles (EVs). This partnership has already resulted in a few notable vehicles, such as the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86, which were introduced in 2012 and quickly became iconic sports cars. While their initial ventures into the electric vehicle market received mixed reviews, the two companies are committed to continuing their EV development, signaling exciting prospects for the future.
As of March 2024, Toyota holds a 20.42% stake in Subaru, which has enabled the automakers to combine resources and jointly develop vehicles. This collaboration dates back to Toyota’s initial purchase of a stake in Subaru’s parent company, Fuji Heavy Industries, in 2005. Over the years, Toyota gradually increased its ownership, making it a significant shareholder and influencer in Subaru’s operations. However, despite this strong financial connection, Toyota has no current plans to take full ownership of Subaru.
Their first electric vehicles, the Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X, were released for the 2023 model year, marking the duo’s entry into the growing EV segment. While these electric crossovers feature all-wheel drive and have a 227-mile driving range, their slow charging speeds and less impressive performance drew some criticism. However, with three additional EV models in development, Toyota and Subaru are eager to improve upon this initial offering and address the concerns that have been raised.
The new EVs will likely leverage the expertise and manufacturing capabilities of both companies to create more competitive offerings in the electric vehicle market. Toyota and Subaru’s long history of collaboration and shared development resources, combined with their recent strides in electric mobility, suggests that their upcoming models could have a stronger impact on the growing EV market.
