Is Subaru still owned by Toyota?
No, Subaru is not owned by Toyota. Subaru is an independent automaker that has had a long-standing partnership with Toyota, but the two companies are separate entities.
Subaru's Relationship with Toyota
Subaru and Toyota have had a close business relationship for many years, but Subaru has remained an independent company. The two automakers have collaborated on various projects, such as the development of the Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ sports car, but Toyota does not own a controlling stake in Subaru.
In fact, Subaru is majority-owned by Subaru Corporation, a Japanese conglomerate that was formerly known as Fuji Heavy Industries. Toyota holds a 20% stake in Subaru Corporation, which gives it a significant minority ownership, but not a controlling interest.
Subaru's Ownership Structure
- Subaru Corporation (formerly Fuji Heavy Industries) owns the majority of Subaru, with a 51.5% stake.
- Toyota holds a 20% stake in Subaru Corporation, making it the second-largest shareholder.
- The remaining 28.5% of Subaru Corporation is publicly traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
So, while Subaru and Toyota have a close working relationship, Subaru remains an independent automaker and is not owned by Toyota. The two companies collaborate on certain projects, but Subaru maintains its own distinct brand identity and product lineup.
Does Subaru own Toyota?
No, Toyota does not own Subaru, but Toyota owns just over 20% of Subaru Corporation, making it the largest shareholder. This is a minority stake, and Subaru operates independently, though the two companies have a close partnership with shared technology and joint-venture vehicles like the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86.
- Ownership: Toyota owns approximately 20.42% of Subaru Corporation, which is a significant but minority stake. This ownership grew from an initial 8.7% purchase in 2005.
- Collaboration: The partnership involves sharing technology, such as Subaru using Toyota's hybrid systems, and collaborating on joint-development projects.
- Joint vehicles: The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 are developed together and built at a Subaru plant, demonstrating their close technical ties.
- Independence: Despite the ownership stake, Subaru remains an independent company with its own management and focus. Subaru's core values like all-wheel drive remain a priority for the brand, although the partnership is also leading to new electrified models, notes Torque News.
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.
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.
Is Toyota taking over Subaru?
No, Toyota is not buying Subaru outright, but it owns a significant stake of just over 20%. This makes Subaru part of the Toyota Motor Group, but the companies maintain separate operations and branding. The relationship is a partnership that includes collaborating on joint development and resource sharing for vehicles like the Toyota GR86/Subaru BRZ sports cars and the Solterra/bZ4X electric SUV.
Key aspects of the partnership
- Ownership: Toyota has a minority stake of just over 20% in Subaru, which it increased over several years.
- Collaboration: The companies work together on vehicle development, production, and technology.
- Joint projects: Some examples include:
- The Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86 sports coupes
- The Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs
- Resource sharing: Subaru uses Toyota's hybrid technology and sells rebadged products from Toyota's Daihatsu subsidiary.
- Future plans: The partnership is expected to continue, with both companies collaborating on future electric vehicle projects to mitigate risks.
