IN A little over two and a half years, Subaru has gone from having zero battery electric models in its Australian line-up to three; yet the Japanese marque has no sales volume split expectations for its Uncharted, Solterra, and Trailseeker electric SUV trio.

 

When asked about the expected volume split at the local launch of the Trailseeker, Subaru Australia general manager Scott Lawrence said there is no specific target for the importer’s battery electric range, saying only that he expects the three to provide “good growth”.

 

“At this stage we don’t have a target for sales split for the three BEVs,” he stated.

 

“The important part for us is offering consumers in those different segment options.

 

“So, at this stage, (there is) no target. But we are confident that we’ll see good growth in those three segments.”

 

Subaru’s electric SUV trio find themselves priced remarkably close to one another.

 

Kicking off Subaru’s battery electric range, the Uncharted small SUV is priced at $59,990 plus on-road costs.

 

Following a recent price drop, the Solterra is now priced from $61,990 + ORC for the entry-level AWD, rising to $67,990 for the Touring variant.

 

Prices for the Trailseeker were also recently dropped with the base model and Touring variants priced at $63,990 and $69,990 + ORC respectively.

 

As it stands, the pricing of Subaru’s entire electric model range fits within a window of $10,000.

 

The Solterra mid-size SUV has had a relatively slow sales start since it landed on Australian shores in 2024, during which 386 examples were sold.

 

Last year, Subaru sold just 202 Solterras, less than a fifth of the closely related Toyota bZ4X’s sales.

 

However, both paled in comparison to the segment-leading sales of the Tesla Model Y, of which 22,239 were sold.

 

Instead, Subaru’s 2025 sales were dominated by the Forester (15,179 unit sales), Crosstrek (10,842), and Outback (8384).

 

Following an update which gave it more power and range along with a lower price tag for the 2026 model year, 398 Solterras have been sold this year as of the end of May (Toyota sold 1526 bZ4X examples during the same period).

 

Meanwhile, 117 Trailseekers – prices for which have also been reduced since they were initially announced in April – have been sold in 2026 so far, 112 of which were sold during the month of May.

 

However, the Trailseeker significantly outsold the Solterra during May with 112 and 74 sales respectively.

 

Pre-orders for the Uncharted opened last month and sales figures are yet to be posted.

 

According to Inchcape Australasia – Subaru’s local importer and distributor – marketing director Amanda Leaney, Subaru’s initial electric SUV buyers come from its existing customer base followed by new buyers.

 

“We have a very loyal customer base, and the first volume of sales always come from within the Subaru loyalty group,” she said.

 

“We’ve got a huge following of Subaru owners who are looking for an electrification journey. And complementing that is we have a whole bunch of new people coming to discover what Subaru’s electric vehicle range will be.

 

“So, we see a really good mix of both actually, but early sales will always indicate that Subaru loyalty will reward us first as we grow the credibility and capability in the new to brand entrants.”

STELLANTIS has unveiled plans to launch a new generation of affordable electric city cars priced from around €15,000 ($A25,000), as European manufacturers attempt to regain ground lost to increasingly competitive Chinese rivals.

 

The ambitious E-Car project will see production commence at Stellantis’ Pomigliano d’Arco plant in Italy from 2028, with the first vehicles aimed squarely at the continent’s shrinking entry-level car segment.

 

Announced by chief executive Antonio Filosa, the initiative forms a critical part of the group’s long-term electrification strategy and aligns with new European Commission proposals designed to encourage the production of small, locally built electric vehicles.

 

The E-Car program is expected to underpin multiple Stellantis brands and revive Europe’s tradition of affordable urban mobility, a market segment that has contracted sharply in recent years as rising costs, regulatory pressures, and shifting consumer preferences push buyers towards larger vehicles.

 

“The E-Car is a concept that finds its natural match in the small car success that runs deep in our European Stellantis DNA,” said Mr Filosa.

 

“Our customers are calling for a revival of small, stylish vehicles, proudly produced in Europe, which are also affordable and environmentally friendly.”

 

Industry observers, however, question whether European manufacturers can profitably build €15,000 EVs while competing against lower-cost Chinese brands that benefit from extensive vertical integration, lower labour costs, and established battery supply chains.

 

Under the European Commission’s proposed E-Car framework, vehicles measuring less than 4200mm in length would qualify for additional regulatory incentives, including enhanced CO2 credits and simplified homologation requirements.

 

The measures are intended to help restore viability to Europe’s struggling small-car market.

 

One of the first beneficiaries is expected to be Citroen, which is reportedly preparing to revive its iconic 2CV nameplate as a fully electric city car priced below €15,000.

 

A related Fiat model is also expected to emerge from the program.

 

The timing reflects growing concern about the collapse of Europe’s traditional minicar segment.

 

According to industry consultancy Arthur D Little, annual production of A-segment vehicles has fallen from approximately 720,000 units in 2021 to around 320,000 units this year, while segment market share has declined from 9.1 per cent in 2012 to just 3.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2026.

 

Analysts say the economics of affordable vehicles have become increasingly challenging as safety requirements, cybersecurity regulations, software integration, and emissions standards add cost and complexity to vehicles traditionally sold on price.

 

At the same time, buyers are increasingly choosing used vehicles or moving into larger segments where monthly finance repayments differ little from those of a city car.

 

Stellantis believes new development methods, greater supplier integration and strategic partnerships will help overcome those hurdles.

 

The company says its E-Car models will feature dedicated battery-electric technology developed alongside selected partners to accelerate time-to-market and improve affordability.

 

Production will take place at the same Italian facility that has long produced the Fiat Panda, one of Europe’s most successful budget cars.

 

Despite the challenges, industry experts expect affordable EVs to play a crucial role in helping manufacturers meet increasingly stringent European emissions targets.

 

Transport and Environment cars director Lucien Mathieu predicts several €15,000 EVs will reach European roads before the end of the decade as automakers seek to reduce fleet emissions and avoid costly regulatory penalties.

 

Whether European manufacturers can achieve profitability while matching Chinese rivals on price remains the key question.

 

“The challenge extends beyond engineering a €15,000 EV,” said Arthur D Little automotive practice manager Nicola Borgo.

 

“Legacy European automakers must create a development and manufacturing model that can profitably serve an entry-level market that is smaller, more regulated and facing aggressive Chinese competition – or risk ceding the segment entirely.”

 

The E-Car project represents more than a new model range for Stellantis as it is a test of whether Europe’s automotive industry can reinvent affordable mobility for the electric age while keeping production, jobs and technology development on home soil.

REAL-WORLD SOLUTION: Chery’s Rhino battery will address charging time, durability, and safety issues associated with current EV battery technology.

Lucid Motors has been making expensive, high-end electric cars like the Air sedan or the Gravity SUV, but now, the company wants to build EVs that more people can afford. During a meeting with investors, Lucid shared plans for a new midsize platform, which will help them build EVs that cost less than $50,000. For a brand that usually sells cars for over $100,000, this is a big change.

The company announced the names of its next two vehicles: the Lucid Cosmos and the Lucid Earth. These models are smaller than the current Air and the Gravity. Lucid also mentioned a third vehicle is coming later, but they haven’t picked a name for it yet. This mystery model looks like it will be a very large vehicle, almost like a van.

Lucid revealed its future models during Investor Day

To make these new electric cars cheaper, Lucid is changing how it builds them. The engineers found ways to use fewer parts and simpler manufacturing. One of the biggest updates is a new motor called “Atlas.” This motor is smaller and lighter than the ones used by the company now. It also uses 30% fewer parts, and because it is easier to make, it costs Lucid much less money to build each car.

Battery packs are usually the most expensive part of any EV, and Lucid plans to save money here, too. The company is known for making very efficient cars that go a long way on a single charge. Because the technology is so good, Lucid can use smaller, lighter batteries. These smaller batteries can still reach the same driving range as competitors who use much bigger, heavier ones. This trick helps lower the price of each car by thousands of dollars.

Entirely new platform will help Lucid produce cheaper EVs

The Lucid Cosmos is designed for people who love speed. Lucid says it will be a high-performance vehicle that will go from 0 to 60 mph in 3.5 seconds or less. On a chart showing different types of cars, Lucid placed the Cosmos in the “sporty and advanced” corner.

The Lucid Earth focuses more on being helpful and functional. While it uses the same advanced technology as the Cosmos, it is designed for daily tasks and adventures. Lucid thinks both the Earth and the Cosmos will appeal to people who like to explore. The third, unnamed model will be the most practical of the bunch, focusing entirely on space and utility rather than speed.

New ”Atlas” motor is simpler but as powerful and efficient as older units

Lucid is also working on a program for robotaxis. To make more money, Lucid will offer monthly subscriptions for self-driving features. The company is also finally adding Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to its fleet, making it easier for drivers to connect their phones to the car’s dashboard.

By selling more affordable electric cars, Lucid hopes to grow its business. Building luxury cars is great, but selling more vehicles helps a company stay healthy. If this plan works, we will see many different types of Lucid vehicles on the road soon.

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