The Fuji Heavy saga: FHI 'may suspend' output of Stella EV

From the Japan Times/Kyodo News: Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. is considering suspending production of its only electric vehicle, sources said Monday (so said Bloomberg, Fuji Heavy denied the report later that day).

Details including the timing of the suspension have not been decided, but the maker of Subaru brand cars could suspend production of the EV when the automaker stops manufacturing the Stella minivehicle, the EV's base car, the sources said.

Fuji Heavy plans to withdraw completely from minivehicle production sometime around 2012.

Fuji Heavy began selling the plug-in Stella electric vehicle to corporate customers and local governments in July 2009 with a sales target of 400 units by the end of March 2011.

The Stella EV, manufactured at a plant in Ota, Gunma Prefecture, is priced at ¥4.73 million.

Fuji Heavy is seeking to launch a plug-in gasoline electric hybrid vehicle, which can be recharged using a household electrical outlet, in the mid-2010s.

The automaker is seeking support from its top shareholder, Toyota Motor Corp., an industry leader in the development and marketing of gas-electric hybrids.

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Fuji Heavy Industries denies it will halt electric vehicle sales

Fuji Heavy Industries, the manufacturers of Subaru, has announced it hasn't halted sales or development of electric vehicles, spokesman Fusao Watanabe said by phone from Tokyo today, quoted by Bloomberg.

Earlier on, Japan's Yomiuri newspaper, also quoted by Bloomberg, reported that the automaker will suspend sales of plug-in electric vehicles for as long as five years because of a scarcity of charging facilities and the price of lithium-ion batteries, citing the company.

Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) halts electric vehicle sales until 2016

Tweet this post UPDATE: FUJI HEAVY HAS DENIED YOMIURI'S REPORT: From Bloomberg: Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. (manufacturers of Subaru) will suspend sales of plug-in electric vehicles for as long as five years because of a scarcity of charging facilities and the price of lithium-ion batteries, the Yomiuri newspaper reported, citing the company.

Its plug-in Stella cars have been offered to corporations and local governments. The automaker plans to re-enter the market around 2016, the report said.

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