Motoring

Japan’s Subaru unveils first all-electric car

Japan’s Subaru Corp (7270.T) on Thursday unveiled its first all-electric vehicle (EV), the Solterra, the result of a two-year joint development project with its biggest shareholder, Toyota Motor Corp (7203.T).

The sports utility vehicle (SUV) launch comes amid accelerating demand for EVs as nations around the world tighten environmental regulation to cut carbon emissions. Toyota last month announced its version of a battery electric vehicle (BEV), the bZ4X.
The technological shift away from internal combustion engines poses a challenge for smaller carmakers, such as Subaru, that are less able to fund expensive development of EVs. At the same time, it is an opportunity for top-tier automakers, such as Toyota, to draw smaller rivals closer.

“The EV market is not mature yet, so we will respond to it by deepening our cooperation with Toyota,” Subaru CEO Tomomi Nakamura said during a launch event. Vehicle sales at Subaru are less than a tenth of those at Toyota, the world’s biggest automaker by production volume.

The front-wheel drive Solterra has a cruising range of 530 km (329 miles), while the all-wheel drive version can drive 460 km on a single charge, Subaru said in a press release.

Toyota owns a fifth of Subaru and has a 5% stake in Mazda Motor Corp (7261.T), which plans to launch 13 electrified vehicles by 2025, including hybrids and BEVs that will incorporate Toyota technology.

Source: Reuters

In other news – Anele Mdoda wins Best Local Radio Personality Award #Thebestofjoburg

Anele Mdoda is over the moon after scoring awards alongside her team at 2021 Best of Joburg Awards. The radio personality took to social media, flaunting the plaques secured for the awards bagged.

Anele Mdoda

Anele won the Best Radio Personality of the year; her radio show Anele and the Club on 947 also secured a win. The radio station where she works, 947 Joburg was voted as the winner of Best Radio Station. Learn more