Subaru has announced it will launch its first gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle in the United States in 2012. The hybrid model will likely debut in late 2012, with an on-sale date in early 2013.
Subaru CEO Tom Doll made the announcement on the sidelines of the Detroit Auto Show. “We’re going to need something at some point, even (only) to say we have it because that enhances our brand image in the market,” Doll said.
Doll didn’t reveal any details about the forthcoming hybrid, but did indicate it would be sold in the United States. It has been rumored that Subaru is readying a hybrid version of its next-generation Tribeca crossover, but Doll’s 2012 timeframe is probably a little too tight for that model.
In the interim, Subaru will continue to rely on its lineup of fuel efficient models. “If gas prices increase moderately and they stay in this $3 range, we have the products that can compete very, very well in the segments that we compete in,” Doll said.
References
1.’Subaru planning…’ view
