Subaru and Aisin to collaborate on eAxles for next-gen BEVs

Subaru Corporation and Aisin Corporation are to jointly develop and share production of eAxles for use in battery electric vehicles (BEVs) that Subaru will start producing from the latter half of the 2020s, by combining their knowledge and expertise in vehicle and transmission development.

This joint development, based on the concept of high efficiency, light weight, and compactness, aims to achieve various performance aspects that take into account the environments in which customers will use their vehicles.

Concept eAxle.

An eAxle is a drive unit that integrates the main components necessary to propel a vehicle that uses an electric motor as its main power source, such as BEVs, into an axle structure. It mainly consists of a gearbox, a motor, and an inverter.

In addition, the two companies will study optimal parts suppliers and production schemes, taking into consideration the maintenance and development of the existing supply chain, which is undergoing significant changes in the business environment due to the advancement of vehicle electrification.

Both Subaru and Aisin have a common goal of contributing to a carbon-neutral society. While Subaru has established a roadmap toward 2050 and is accelerating initiatives such as electrification, Aisin aims to achieve a carbon-neutral society by advancing initiatives in terms of production and products, and is accelerating the development of eAxle, which is as the top priority product, by pursuing higher efficiency and downsizing.

L-R: Atsushi Osaki, Representative Director and President, Subaru Corp and Moritaka Yoshida, Director and President, Aisin Corporation.