Subaru has shown a camouflaged version of its first fully in-house developed electric vehicle. The Japanese carmaker is seeking to move away from its rebadged Toyota strategy for its electric lineup. Subaru says it developed the underlying technologies in roughly half the usual time.
Two years ago, Subaru claimed that putting an EV family on the market was nearly impossible without help from its biggest shareholder, Toyota.
So the company rebranded the CH-R as the Uncharted, the bZ4x as the Solterra, and the Touring version as the e-Outback (the Getaway is not for sale in the EU). Badge engineering is something the automotive industry has practiced for ages.
Deliberate break
But now, Subaru has showcased a prototype of its first internally developed EV platform, called the Sano. The battery, the motors, and the new central control unit – they’re all new, as in ‘not Toyota’.
It is a deliberate break from the arrangement that did make sense from a cost perspective. EVs are expensive. Sharing the tech makes for a sounder business case.
Subaru’s engineering boss, Takatomo Watamori, put the strategic case plainly: building in-house is how Subaru preserves “the peace of mind and driving pleasure that define Subaru, even in this era of change.”
Translated from the PR book: four models in the partnership suffice; a company that has built an infamous reputation on all-wheel drive and safety doesn’t want its EVs to feel like Toyotas in a different flavor.
Beyond family crossovers
The test car runs a 150 kW motor up front and a 230 kW unit at the rear, for a combined 509 hp. That brings back memories of Subaru’s performance reputation, with 0-100 km/h times under four seconds. It is a first statement of intent, showcasing Subaru’s plan to move beyond family crossovers.
Further specs look promising. The battery pack is 25% lighter than the current one, and Subaru is aiming for an energy density 20% above the industry average (whatever that benchmark is). The motors are also said to be 30% more efficient than average.
The platform is targeted to shed 100 kilos over the existing eTNGA architecture, with a redesigned front end where the support members arc over the wheels and the front motor rotates in a crash to divert forces from the battery and occupants. That’s the safety innovation we mentioned earlier.
Aiming at China speed
However, not all the technology is proprietary. Subaru co-developed the e-axles with Aisin, a Toyota group supplier, and the battery pack uses cylindrical cells from Panasonic. What Subaru is actually claiming as its own is the architecture, the crash structure and – crucially – the software stack.
The independent development, however, is not a total surprise. The team effort with Toyota was always set at four models, a threshold it has reached. The boldest claim is that Subaru managed to cut development time in half.
No doubt that this is framed as a response to Chinese development cycles. Still, the prototype we’re seeing here won’t arrive until around 2029 and will launch into a market where Chinese rivals refresh on two- to three-year cycles. Its first self-developed EV is part of a larger offensive to market ten new models by 2030.
