Subaru’s Electric Getaway Stalls Before It Even Starts

Subaru has finally broken its silence on the all-electric Getaway SUV, and the news is a mixed bag. The model is still alive, which is more than can be said for several other EVs that have been axed lately. But it’s also delayed, and the holdup appears to be bigger than a simple tweak to the infotainment screen.

The Getaway shares its bones with the upcoming fifth-generation Toyota Highlander, which is also delayed by about eight weeks. Both are slated to be built at Toyota’s Kentucky plant. ” Since the issue affects both models, it points to something fundamental, not a model-specific glitch.

That suggests a problem with the vehicle’s core hardware or supply chain, not a software bug that could be patched over the air.

Industry watchers are pointing to two likely culprits. One is the battery pack, the most expensive and complex part of any EV. The other is a global shortage of computer memory, RAM and NAND flash, driven by AI data centers gobbling up supply. Tech media has dubbed the crisis “RAMaggeddon,” and it’s already driving up prices for everything from laptops to car computers.

If that’s the root cause, the eight-week delay could be just the beginning. For an automaker already struggling, a prolonged parts crunch like this could be devastating.