Toyota And Subaru Strike Deal To Develop EV Platform For Cars And SUVs

BY Dan Mihalascu | Posted on

Collaborations are hip this season, especially when it comes to electric vehicle projects.

Following yesterday’s announcement regarding the cooperation between BMW and Jaguar Land Rover on electric drive units, Toyota and Subaru have confirmed they would co-develop an EV platform.

The architecture will be dedicated to battery electric vehicles (BEVs) for midsize and large passenger vehicles. The platform will also serve as a base for a C-segment BEV SUV model that will be sold under each company’s brand.

The carmakers will bring their strengths into the partnership such as Toyota’s electrification technologies and Subaru’s all-wheel-drive expertise, respectively. By combining their forces, the two companies “intend to take up the challenge of creating attractive products with appeal that only BEVs can offer.”

The platform will underpin multiple vehicle types including C-segment and D-segment sedans and SUVs. Following the agreement, Subaru said it will now shift its existing BEV development resources to the new joint project. No further details about the common EV platform and the co-developed compact electric SUV are available for the moment.

At the moment, only Toyota has an electric vehicle in its lineup, the recently-unveiled C-HR EV (pictured). Also available as a rebadged Izoa EV, the electric crossover is a China-exclusive model, at least for the time being. However, Toyota has announced its intention to launch an electric vehicle in Europe in 2021 and chances are that model will be based on the C-HR as well.

As for Subaru, it lags way behind Toyota when it comes to electrification. The company has only one plug-in hybrid model in its lineup, the Crosstrek PHEV which uses Toyota know-how.

2020 VW Passat Pre-Sales Begin In Europe, Prices Announced

Pre-sales of the facelifted VW Passat have begun in select European markets; five engines are available at launch.
Undisguised Porsche 992 Targa Test Car Gets The Nurburgring Treatment

The third member of the new Porsche 911 family is (almost) ready for the market.
Toyota And Subaru Strike Deal To Develop EV Platform For Cars And SUVs

The two carmakers said they would jointly develop a C-segment BEV SUV based on the new platform.
All-New Kia Optima Render Reflects What Little We Know

Kia design boss Byung Chul Juh has stated that the next-gen Optima will feature progressive styling.
Mulgari Icon03 Is A Bespoke BMW M240i With More Power Than An M2

This heavily modified BMW M240i from Mulgari will set a Nürburgring Nordschleife lap time in late July.
Struggling Renault Will Revamp F1 Car In Time For French GP

Renault currently has only 14 points in the Constructor Standings, 3rd worst on the grid.
All-New Peugeot e-208 Coming To Special Event At Silverstone

Peugeot wants all of their models to feature electrified variants by the year 2023.
Facelifted Kia K7 / Cadenza Teased In Korea Ahead Of Imminent Launch

For a mid-life cycle refresh, Kia has implemented some pretty extensive changes inside and out.
NEVS Buys British In-Wheel Electric Motor Manufacturer

NEVS owner, Evergrande, wants to form the world’s largest electric automotive group.
Audi Picks SAIC-VW Plant To Build Chinese Market Q4 e-tron

Audi’s Q4 e-tron compact electric SUV will also be built at VW Group’s Zwickau factory in Germany.