Is the GR86 built by Toyota?
Yes. Toyota builds the GR86 at its Motomachi plant in Japan, as part of a joint development project with Subaru. The two brands collaborated to create a Toyota-badged version of the same platform and powertrain used for the Subaru BRZ.
Overview of the collaboration
The GR86 is the culmination of a long-running partnership between Toyota and Subaru that began with the GT86/BRZ duo. For the GR86, Toyota took the chassis, tuning, and design cues to deliver a model aligned with Toyota’s styling and performance ethos, while Subaru contributed to the shared engine family and underlying engineering.
Shared platform and powertrain
Both the GR86 and the Subaru BRZ ride on a closely related platform and use a jointly developed 2.4-liter flat-four engine. The result is two nearly identical sports cars with brand-specific tuning, styling, and market positioning.
Manufacturing and assembly
Where and how the cars are assembled matters for understanding who builds what. The GR86 is produced by Toyota at its Motomachi Plant in Toyota City, Japan.
Key production facts:
- Produced by Toyota at Motomachi Plant in Japan.
- Joint development with Subaru as part of the GR/BRZ collaboration.
- Shared 2.4-liter flat-four engine and related engineering with Subaru BRZ.
These arrangements mean the GR86 and BRZ share core engineering while remaining distinct products marketed under separate brands.
What this means for buyers
For buyers and enthusiasts, the takeaway is that the GR86 is a Toyota product built in partnership with Subaru. The collaboration ensures a balance of Toyota's driving dynamics and Subaru's engine and chassis expertise, with the BRZ serving as the Subaru-branded sibling produced at a different facility.
Summary
Yes—the GR86 is built by Toyota at the Motomachi plant in Japan, developed in collaboration with Subaru. It shares its platform and 2.4-liter engine with the Subaru BRZ, reflecting a tightly coordinated cross-brand effort that aims to deliver a lightweight, rear-wheel-drive sports coupe under two different brand badges.
