Did GM ever own Subaru?
GM never owned Subaru outright. The companies engaged in a limited strategic relationship that included a minority stake in Subaru’s parent company and some joint projects, but Subaru remained independent and is now operated by Subaru Corporation.
To understand the answer fully, it helps to look at the history of the GM–Fuji Heavy Industries relationship (Fuji Heavy Industries is the parent company of Subaru) and how it evolved over time, including notable collaborations and the eventual branding shift that reflected Subaru’s standalone identity.
A history of limited ownership and collaboration
A concise timeline of key milestones in GM's relationship with Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru's parent) illustrates how ownership never occurred, but collaboration did.
- 1999: GM buys a minority stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru, as part of a broader strategic alliance.
- 2004–2006: The Saab 9-2X is developed and built by Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru) and sold under the Saab badge, illustrating a tangible collaboration tied to Subaru’s engineering.
- Mid-to-late 2000s: GM reduces and eventually exits its stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, ending its direct financial involvement in Subaru’s parent company.
- 2012: Fuji Heavy Industries renames itself Subaru Corporation, aligning corporate branding with the Subaru automobile brand.
In summary, while GM participated in a minority investment and limited collaboration with Subaru’s parent company, it never owned Subaru itself. The stake was eventually divested, and Subaru continues today as an independent automaker under its own corporate umbrella.
Current status and what changed
Today, Subaru operates as an independent brand under Subaru Corporation, the former Fuji Heavy Industries, and GM no longer holds any ownership stake in Subaru or its parent company. The era of joint projects and cross-brand utilization exists primarily as a historical note in the broader story of automotive alliances in the early 21st century.
- Subaru Corporation (formerly Fuji Heavy Industries) remains independent, with ownership distributed among its shareholders and management aligned to the Subaru brand strategy.
- GM does not own Subaru, nor does it maintain a financial stake or governance role in the company today.
- The notable collaboration elements from that era, such as the Saab 9-2X project built by Subaru, are now part of automotive history rather than ongoing partnerships.
Ultimately, the relationship between GM and Subaru was defined by strategic cooperation rather than ownership, and Subaru’s corporate identity has evolved separately from GM for more than a decade.
Summary
GM never owned Subaru outright. The history includes a minority investment in Fuji Heavy Industries (Subaru’s parent) and some joint projects, notably the Saab 9-2X, but the stake was eventually divested. Subaru today operates as Subaru Corporation, an independent automaker with no ownership ties to GM.
Was Subaru owned by GM?
In 2003, the company adopted the logo of its Subaru automobile division as its worldwide corporate symbol. On October 5, 2005 Toyota purchased 8.7% of FHI shares from General Motors, which had owned 20.1% since 1999. GM later divested its remaining 11.4% stake on the open market to sever all ties with FHI.
Is Subaru made by Chevrolet?
The car company known today as Subaru is the automobile division of the Subaru Corporation. It was founded in 1953 as Fuji Heavy Industries, following the merger of five other companies.
What car company owns Subaru?
Subaru is owned by Subaru Corporation, a Japanese multinational conglomerate that also manufactures aircraft and industrial products. While Subaru Corporation is the parent company, Toyota Motor Corporation is the largest shareholder, owning about 20% of Subaru, and the two companies collaborate on vehicle development and technology.
- Parent company: Subaru is the automobile division of Subaru Corporation, which was formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries.
- Toyota's role: Toyota is a significant investor, but Subaru remains an independent company. They partner on specific models like the Solterra and BRZ and share technology, as seen with the Solterra being built in a Toyota factory.
Did Chevy buy Subaru?
The answer is actually quite simple. In 1999, General Motors purchased a 20.1 per cent stake in Fuji Heavy Industries, the conglomerate that owns Subaru (and would be renamed Subaru Corporation in 2017).
