Subaru is preparing to take a new strategic step by developing next-generation technologies for its electric vehicles independently, moving away from its long-term partnership with Toyota. This shift comes after the challenges both companies faced in confronting rising competition from Chinese firms like BYD and emerging electric vehicle companies.
Independent technical platform and advanced batteries
Subaru unveiled its latest internal technologies, which include its first platform dedicated entirely to electric vehicles, alongside new battery packs, electric motors, and a central control unit that enables over-the-air (OTA) software updates. The company showcased a prototype at its test track north of Tokyo, featuring an all-wheel-drive system with a combined output of 509 horsepower, acceleration from zero to 100 kilometers per hour in less than 4 seconds, and these technologies are scheduled to begin rolling out around 2029.
Higher efficiency and partnership with AMD and Panasonic channels
Subaru engineers explained that the new components are characterized by being lighter, smaller, and more efficient, with the motors providing a 30% increase in efficiency compared to the industry average. The battery pack also uses 4,000 cylindrical cells from Panasonic Energy, making it 24% lighter while aiming to achieve an energy density 20% higher than the industry average.
- Development of an integrated electronic control unit that supports over-the-air (OTA) software updates and the EyeSight driver assistance system.
- Collaboration with AMD to develop a custom chip that utilizes artificial intelligence in future EyeSight system updates.
- Reliance on an electric axle developed in partnership with the Aisin Group, a subsidiary of Toyota.
Why does this news matter?
This development represents a significant operational shift for Subaru, which seeks to enhance its technical independence and increase its total sales volume to reach 1.2 million vehicles by the first half of the current decade (2030s). Relying on internal technologies and specialized partnerships in artificial intelligence and chips reflects the efforts of traditional automakers to keep pace with the digital and electric era independently.