Subaru is mulling a potential return to the B-segment with an affordable electric hatchback following the success of the new Renault 5.
The move would bolster the Japanese marque’s position in Europe by lowering entry into its EV line-up, made up of the recently revised Solterra, new Uncharted SUV and new E-Outback crossover.
The brand’s most famous B-segment model was the Justy, sold in in the UK various guises between 1987 and 2009.
Speaking to Autocar, Subaru’s global EV product boss Inoue Masahiko said the brand was pondering the introduction of a car that could sit below the Uncharted, such has been the success of the 5 since it launched at the turn of the year: 30,000 sales in Europe so far.
“It’s something that is up for consideration, because we need to prepare a wider range of BEVs to meet every customer’s expectations,” said Masahiko.
Given Subaru has a strategic partnership with Toyota (the Solterra is heavily related to the bZ4X and the Uncharted is based on the new C-HR+), it’s likely that the two will join forces again, and a previously mooted electric successor to the Yaris would be the perfect tie-up.
A launch date in the latter end of the decade would make sense, given that Toyota product boss Andrea Carlucci previously confirmed to Autocar that an electric Yaris “is the idea” but “this is not quite now”.
What’s more, Subaru Europe boss David Dello Stritto said that the concept of a Subaru electric supermini was worth exploring, given the segment has been reignited by the likes of the 5 and the impending arrival of the Volkswagen ID 2 and Cupra Raval and the prospect of an ‘MG 2’ by 2028.
However, Dello Stritto said that Subaru wants “to wait and see how the Uncharted does” before deciding if it needs to extend its EV line-up lower.
“I reckon we need about two years to find out how it’s performing,” he added. “We might have come up with new ideas during that period, so in two years’ time we can talk again.”
