Subaru Tests In-House EV Tech to Move Away From Toyota Partnership
New platform features 509 hp AWD powertrain and aims for 20% higher energy density than industry average.
Subaru is developing proprietary electric vehicle technology for its next-generation models, signaling a strategic shift away from its long-standing co-development partnership with Toyota.
What Happened
Subaru revealed its latest in-house technology on Sunday, which will power upcoming next-generation electric vehicles. The new suite includes Subaru’s first dedicated EV platform, new batteries, electric motors, and an integrated control unit designed to enable over-the-air updates. A prototype shown at a test course north of Tokyo featured an all-wheel-drive powertrain with a combined 509 horsepower (380 kW). Subaru stated that this setup allows the vehicle to accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (0 to 100 km/h) in under 4 seconds.
The prototype utilized an e-axle developed with Toyota’s supplier Aisin Group and a battery pack from Panasonic Energy containing 4,000 cylindrical cells. Subaru engineers claim the new motors deliver a 30% efficiency increase compared with the industry average. The new battery pack is 24% lighter than previous iterations, and the company aims for an energy density 20% higher than the industry average. While the prototype was mounted under the body of an Outback, Subaru clarified that the design is not final and could change for production versions.
Why It Matters
This move marks a departure from the 2024 plan where Subaru and Toyota announced they would co-develop four new electric SUVs by the end of 2026 to share development costs and manufacturing space. By establishing its own brand identity in the EV space, Subaru aims to differentiate itself from competitors like BYD and Tesla. The integration of a custom chip with Advanced Micro Devices will support artificial intelligence in future EyeSight updates, while the in-house integrated ECU is intended to reduce costs by streamlining components across the lineup. Company executives indicated that some of this new technology will begin rolling out around 2029.
Subaru’s broader ambition is to deliver 1.2 million vehicles by the first half of the 2030s, exceeding its 2018 record of 1.1 million. For context, the company sold approximately 924,000 vehicles last year, a fraction of Toyota’s sales, which surpassed 11 million.
The Bottom Line
Subaru is testing a dedicated EV platform with improved efficiency and power metrics, aiming to launch some of this in-house technology around 2029 as it seeks to establish a distinct brand identity separate from Toyota.
