Toyota and Subaru are not stopping at the bZ4X/Solterra; they are collaborating on another electric vehicle (EV) without a combustion engine. According to a recent report from Nikkei Asia, the two Japanese automakers plan to introduce a second zero-emission model, which will also be an SUV. Production is slated to begin in January 2026.
Unlike the bZ4X and Solterra, which are manufactured by Toyota at its Aichi plant, this new model is expected to be assembled at Subaru's Yajima facility. The upcoming EV will not be developed entirely from scratch; instead, it will utilize components from the existing electric SUVs to expedite development and reduce costs. The aim is to produce between 15,000 to 20,000 units monthly.
The new EV duo is anticipated to focus on markets such as North America, Europe, and Japan, but could potentially be available in other regions as well. It remains uncertain whether these models will be priced lower than the bZ4X and Solterra, which start at $44,465 and $46,340 in the United States, respectively.
As for the current EVs' performance, Toyota sold 13,577 bZ4X units in the US by September. The Solterra, however, saw lower sales with 9,137 units during the first nine months of the year. In comparison, Hyundai sold 30,318 Ioniq 5s, while Kia moved 15,985 units of the EV6. Honda's Prologue also outsold the Japanese models with 14,179 units through September.
Earlier this year, Toyota and Subaru revealed plans to develop three more EVs beyond the bZ4X/Solterra. Similar to the 2026 model, these additional vehicles will also be crossovers. If production indeed starts in January 2026, official unveilings from Toyota and Subaru are likely to occur in the latter half of next year.
In the interim, both automakers will continue to invest in combustion engines. A joint conference, which also included Mazda, recently announced new and improved ICE technologies.
