As the auto industry continues to move towards a fully electric future, it’s becoming increasingly clear who the leaders and laggards are. Subaru, like many of its Japanese counterparts, is looking to play catch up. To that end, the automaker announced Friday that it was appointing a new CEO to address the “profound transformation” to EVs in the auto industry, following a similar move from Toyota recently.
Atsushi Osaki was appointed as Subaru’s new CEO and president on Friday, as the company looks to overhaul its management structure in order to accelerate its EV efforts and remain competitive. Osaki will take the reigns from Tomomi Nakamura, who has served as Subaru’s leader since June 2018 and navigated it through the pandemic. Going forward, the company said, Subaru will “formulate a new management vision” which will be finalized for the shareholder meeting in June. Osaki previously served as director and EVP of the manufacturing division.
Despite Nakamura initiating Subaru’s EV efforts, introducing the automaker’s first electric vehicle, the Subaru Solterra, the rollout has been less than stellar. Subaru sold a mere 919 EVs in the US last year, while many automakers have released their second, third, or fourth models. Despite over a dozen announcements being made from foreign automakers to invest in EV production in the US since the new federal tax credit was introduced, Subura has made no such plans. The reason, Subaru claims, is because they can’t compete with Mcdonald’s workers earning $20 to $25 an hour.
The management overhaul reflects a similar move from Toyota, which announced its long-time CEO Akio Toyoda was stepping down in January. Toyota’s new CEO and former Lexus chief branding officer, Koji Sato, recently announced “that the time is right, we will accelerate BEV development” using a new approach – a stark contrast to his predecessor.
It remains to be seen if the new management changes will be enough to stimulate change at Subura or Toyota. The recent business overhauls from Japanese automakers all but confirm that accelerating demand for EVs is happening much quicker than most expected. Those who failed to put in the early effort are now looking to catch up with significant business strategy shakeups.
FAQ
Q1. When will electric cars be available in the UK?
A1. Electric cars are already available in the UK.
Q2. Where can I find electric car charging stations near me?
A2. You can use online resources such as Zap-Map to find electric car charging stations near you.
Q3. Which electric car is the best?
A3. The best electric car depends on your individual needs and preferences.
