Japanese car manufacturer Subaru has revised its electric vehicle (EVs) sales strategy, with a new target of making them account for half of its total deliveries in 2030.
Subaru announced on 2 August that it aims to sell 600,000 EVs globally in 2030. This accounts for 50pc and the largest share of the company's total sales forecast.
The updated plan is a pivot from a previous target of 40pc of total sales for EVs and hybrid vehicles combined.
"We made a big revision," said Subaru chief executive Atsushi Osaki.
The company needs to respond to rapid electrification in the US, the biggest market for Subaru, said Osaki, hinting at lifting EV production in the country although specific numbers were undisclosed. The company's production plan by geography will change flexibly through further reconfiguration of its factories in the US and Japan, Osaki added.
Subaru previous announced earlier that it had started discussions with Japanese battery producer Panasonic Energy on building a mid-to long-term partnership for lithium-ion batteries. The aim is for Panasonic to start supplying batteries to Subaru's factories in east Japan's Gunma prefecture from the late 2020s.
