Are Subarus owned by Toyota?
Subarus are not owned by Toyota. Subaru Corporation remains an independent automaker, though Toyota Motor Corporation holds a minority stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, and the two firms maintain a long-running strategic alliance that includes joint product development.
Ownership and control
Subaru operates independently with its own board and management, and Toyota does not own Subaru outright. The arrangement is characterized by a minority investment and collaboration rather than a full takeover.
- Toyota Motor Corporation holds a minority stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru Corporation.
- Subaru Corporation remains independent in its operations and branding, with governance controlled by its own board and shareholders.
In short, the relationship is defined by a non-controlling stake and strategic cooperation, not ownership of Subaru by Toyota.
Alliance and collaboration
Beyond ownership, Toyota and Subaru collaborate on technology and products. Their partnership has yielded co-developed vehicles and shared engineering, enabling efficiencies across both brands.
- The BRZ/Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are a product of direct collaboration, with each brand contributing design and engineering while sharing a common platform.
- They share platforms and engineering know-how, notably around all-wheel-drive architecture and vehicle platforms that support multiple models.
- The two companies are jointly pursuing electrification, safety technology, and future drivetrain development to accelerate mutual capabilities.
These collaborations illustrate a strategic partnership rather than a parent-subsidiary relationship, aligning both brands’ future product roadmaps while keeping Subaru independently operated.
Timeline of key milestones
The following milestones reflect major moments in the Toyota–Subaru relationship.
- 2008: Toyota announces a minority stake purchase in Fuji Heavy Industries, marking a formal financial link to Subaru’s parent company.
- 2012: The BRZ (Subaru) and Toyota 86 (Toyota) sports cars debut as a joint project, with shared engineering and a distinct brand identity.
- 2010s–present: The alliance expands into shared platforms and technology development, including safety systems and automotive engineering collaborations.
- 2020s: The partners continue to explore electrification, hybrid technology, and next-generation vehicle architectures together.
The collaboration remains focused on mutual benefit without transferring ownership or control of Subaru to Toyota.
Summary
In summary, Subarus are not owned by Toyota. Subaru Corporation operates as an independent company, while Toyota holds a minority stake in Subaru’s parent and maintains a long-standing strategic alliance that has produced shared vehicles and technology. The arrangement emphasizes collaboration over ownership, with notable outcomes like the BRZ/86 joint project and joint platform development guiding both brands’ futures.
What Toyota car is made by Subaru?
Toyota 86
The Toyota 86 and the Subaru BRZ are 2+2 sports cars jointly developed by Toyota and Subaru, manufactured at Subaru's Gunma assembly plant.
Are Subaru engines made by Toyota?
No, Toyota does not make Subaru engines; Subaru develops and manufactures its boxer engines in-house. However, the two companies have a close partnership, and Toyota has a 20% stake in Subaru. This collaboration includes co-developing the engines for their joint sports cars, the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86, where Subaru designed the base engine but Toyota contributed key components like its direct injection system, notes this YouTube video.
- Subaru's in-house engine production: Subaru builds its boxer engines and transmissions at its factory in Japan.
- Toyota-Subaru collaboration: The companies have worked together on several projects, including the joint development of the BRZ and 86 sports cars.
- Engine contributions: For the BRZ and 86, Subaru developed the core flat-four boxer engine, but Toyota added its D-4S direct injection system, which helped boost performance.
- Future collaborations: The partnership is expanding to include the development of hybrid and all-electric vehicle platforms and technologies, such as the Forester E-Boxer hybrid.
Are Subaru and Toyota the same company?
No, Subaru and Toyota are not the same company, but they have a close partnership where Toyota holds a minority stake of just over 20% in Subaru Corporation. Subaru remains an independent automaker, but the two companies collaborate on vehicle development, such as the Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86, and share technology, particularly in the electric vehicle sector.
Ownership and partnership
- Minority stake: Toyota owns just over 20% of Subaru Corporation, making it the largest shareholder but not the outright owner.
- Independence: Despite the ownership stake, Subaru is not a subsidiary of Toyota and operates as an independent company.
- Strategic alliance: The relationship is a strategic partnership that allows both companies to share technology and collaborate on specific projects.
Collaboration examples
- Vehicle development: The most famous example is the Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR86 sports car, which was co-developed by both companies.
- Electric vehicles: The companies are collaborating on developing a dedicated electric vehicle platform to share costs and resources.
- Manufacturing: The BRZ/GR86 sports cars are manufactured at Subaru's Gunma plant in Japan.
What company owns Subaru?
Subaru is owned by Subaru Corporation, a Japanese multinational company that is the parent company of the Subaru automotive brand. While Subaru Corporation is the owner, Toyota holds a significant minority stake of over 20% and has a close partnership with Subaru, which includes shared technology and collaborative vehicle development.
- Subaru Corporation: The parent company, formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries, operates the automotive division that makes Subaru vehicles and other industrial products.
- Toyota: The Japanese automaker owns just over 20% of Subaru Corporation, but Subaru remains an independent company with its own separate operations and branding.
- Partnership: The relationship between the two companies goes beyond ownership and includes collaborative projects, such as the development of the Subaru BRZ and the Toyota 86/GR86 sports cars. They also share technology, particularly in hybrid and electric powertrains.
