Toyota JV Will See SUV EV Branded Subaru Solterra in 2022

Ho-hummm…

Subaru of America, Inc. today announced that it will name its new full-electric SUV the Solterra. Designed as a joint venture between Subaru and Toyota, the Solterra has a new, dedicated all-electric platform named the e-SUBARU Global Platform.

The joint venture combines Subaru’s all-wheel drive technology with Toyota’s vehicle electrification technology. (Toyota, Subaru at Shanghai Introduce Latest Joint-Venture EVs, Suzuki, Subaru, Daihatsu, Toyota and Mazda form JV on Technical Specs for Next-Gen Vehicle Communications Devices)

The name Solterra comes from the Latin words for “Sun” and “Earth” to represent Subaru’s “commitment to deliver traditional SUV capabilities in an environmentally responsible package.”

The Toyota bZ4X is an SUV BEV jointly developed with Toyota’s partner, Subaru. It adopts the e-TNGA BEV-dedicated platform that was jointly developed by the two companies: Toyota with advanced expertise in electrification, starting with hybrids; Subaru is expert on AWD technologies.

Toyota plans to produce the Toyota bZ4X in Japan and China, with worldwide sales of the model by the middle of 2022. U.S. product details eventually will emerge, but the product lines were under development during the previously failed administration, currently ensconced in exile at Mira-lardo, that was hostile to globalization and started a losing trade war with China, the world’s largest auto market. Some delays were inevitable. The Toyota U.S. lineup which in total accounts for more than 40% of all alternative powertrain vehicles sold in the U.S. – including battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell electrics, hybrids and plug-in hybrids.

As it stands now, Toyota plans to expand to around 70 electrified models globally by 2025. This future lineup will have 15 dedicated BEVs, including seven carrying the bZ (Beyond Zero) brand moniker. In addition, Toyota intends to bring electrification to its pickup truck lineup in the near future, including hybrid and BEV powertrains. This diverse portfolio of electrified products is intended to move Toyota toward its goal of carbon neutrality by 2050.