According to a file made in Japan today, Subaru Corporation has now formally joined the Toyota Motor group. Toyota’s 20 percent interest in Subaru Corporation represents a strengthening of their relationship as compared to its 16.83 percent stake previously. According to a source from Nippon in Japan, the declaration from last September is now official.
What will the increased relationship mean for 2020 Outback, Forester, Crosstrek, and Ascent models from Subaru?
That which won’t occur is this. At least not anytime soon, Subaru won’t be incorporated by Toyota Motor and turned into a completely owned subsidiary. However, Seeking Alpa claims that Subaru would eventually “become an affiliated firm of Toyota. They won’t be producing any more automobiles jointly that have separate nameplates but same styling, like the Subaru BRZ/Toyota 86 sport coupes. But Subaru will soon undergo significant changes.
The more significant interest Toyota holds will open up new prospects for the considerably smaller Subaru with its current cars and upcoming new models. Subaru recently stated that by 2030, EVs and hybrid electric vehicles will account for 40% of all global sales for the company (HEVs). All Subaru vehicles sold worldwide by the first part of the 2030s will be powered by hybrid or all-electric technology in some capacity. To accomplish this, Subaru will require Toyota’s hybrid technology.
More new all-wheel-drive models, like the Crosstrek Plug-In Hybrid introduced last year, will be available thanks to the recently strengthened relationship. Other Subaru vehicles like the Outback, Forester, and Ascent will be able to utilise the Toyota Hybrid System more widely.
In This Article...
Toyota: Is Subaru its owner?
The major automakers with present presences in the United States are listed below, along with the brands they sell.
BMW, Mini, and Rolls-Royce are all owned by BMW Group. Smart and Mercedes-Benz are owned by Daimler AG. Lincoln and Ford are owned by Ford Motor Co. Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, and Cadillac all belong to General Motors. Hummer is back as a GMC subsidiary brand. In order to co-develop EVs, GM and Honda have an official collaboration. Acura and Honda are owned by Honda Motor Co. It collaborates with GM. Sony Honda Mobility is the name of the electric vehicle firm they founded with Sony. Genesis, Hyundai, and Kia are all owned by Hyundai Motor Group. Mazda is owned by Mazda Motor Corp. Mitsubishi, Nissan, and Infiniti are all owned by the Renault-Nissan-Mitsubishi Alliance. Following the merger of Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Peugeot S.A., a new company called Stellantis was created. According to the explanation, the word is derived from the Latin verb “stello,” which means “to dazzle with stars.” Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Jeep, Maserati, and Ram are now under Stellantis and are FCA brands that are offered in the United States. Other Stellantis automobile brands include Citroen, DS Automobiles, Opel, Peugeot, and Vauxhall. Subaru is owned by Subaru Corp. Jaguar and Land Rover are owned by Tata Motors. Owned by Tesla. Lexus and Toyota are owned by Toyota Motor Corp. Additionally, it owns stock in Suzuki and Subaru. The automotive brand VinFast, along with VinHomes, VinBigData, VinBioCare, and VinBrain, are all owned by VinGroup. Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, Porsche, and Volkswagen are all brands owned by Volkswagen AG. Volvo, Polestar, and Lotus are all brands owned by Zhejiang Geely Holding Group (ZGH).
Which Toyota is a Subaru product?
Subaru’s Gunma assembly factory is where the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, two 2+2 sports cars jointly developed by Subaru and Toyota, are built.
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The 2+2 fastbackcoup is distinguished by its naturally aspirated boxer engine, front-engine, rear-wheel-drive configuration, 53/47 front/rear weight balance, and low center of gravity. It is also noted for taking design cues from Toyota’s earlier AE86, a small, light, front-engine/rear-drive Corolla variant that was well-liked for Showroom Stock, Group A, Group N, Rally, Club, and drift racing.
Toyota marketed the sports car as the 86 for the first-generation model in Asia, Australia, North America (as of August 2016), South Africa, and South America;[2] as the Toyota GT86 in Europe; as the 86 and GT86 in New Zealand; as the Toyota FT86 in Brunei, Nicaragua, and Jamaica; and as the Scion FR-S (20122016) in the United States and Canada.
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The GR86 moniker is used by Toyota to refer to its Gazoo Racing division while marketing the second-generation vehicle.
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Why do Toyota and Subaru produce the same vehicle?
The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 are the products of a partnership between the two Japanese automakers to create a reasonably priced rear-wheel-drive sports car. According to Road & Track, collaboration reduced expenses and sped up the design process, keeping sticker prices low. As a result, the coupes’ powertrains and chassis shared a number of mechanical parts. There were a few minute variations, though.
Toyota’s rendition initially debuted as the 2013 Scion FR-S. According to Car and Driver, the engine was a 2.0-liter flat-four with 200 horsepower and 151 lb-ft of torque, just like the Subaru BRZ. The FR-suspension S’s setup, though, rendered it more “tail-happy” than the BRZ, according to DrivingLine. The BRZ also included more standard equipment and a little superior cabin. But it did get more expensive as a result. However, according to Autoblog, by 2016 the two vehicles were basically identical.
According to Car & Driver, the FR-S was rebranded the Toyota 86 in 2017 after Scion was dissolved. The interior of the coupe was also overhauled by Toyota, and the suspension and anti-roll bars were modified. Additionally, Autotrader claims that cars with the six-speed manual received a modest increase in power from 200 hp and 151 lb-ft to 205 hp and 156 lb-ft. According to Car and Driver, the Subaru BRZ received these similar changes for 2017.
The Subaru BRZ and Toyota 86 were nearly interchangeable by 2020. According to Autotrader, they not only provided the same outputs but also the same functionality, albeit in a different way presented. The 86 features an optional TRD Handling Package, whereas the BRZ is a little bit more neutral out of the box, according to Mechanic Base.
Subaru do you utilize Toyota parts?
Subaru is having a wonderful decade so far; its sales in the United States have doubled, and they are having difficulties meeting demand. While that’s fantastic news for Subaru, a thorough investigation by Reuters reveals that in order to keep the Foresters coming off the assembly line, Subaru and its suppliers have used some dubious but legal labor methods.
You should read the complete report from Reuters, which includes video interviews with employees and a graphic showing which companies supply certain pieces of a Forester.
- Since 2011, Subaru’s sales in the US have doubled; the Forester SUV crossover is particularly well-liked here. Its advertising showcases adoring families, adorable dogs, and incredibly durable cars, all with the slightly perplexing phrase, “Love. It distinguishes a Subaru as a Subaru.
- North of Tokyo in the Japanese city of Ota, there is a Subaru production facility. While some automobiles marketed in the United States are put together in an Indiana factory, Ota, Japan, is where Subaru and its suppliers source their parts.
- Workers from the poor world, some of whom are in Japan seeking asylum, are employed by Subaru and its suppliers. Reuters spoke with employees who were from 22 different Asian and African nations.
- A third or more of their wages may be paid to labor brokers, who are also utilized by Subaru’s suppliers in the garment and textile industries.
- Some employees join Subaru through traineeship programs, which ostensibly aim to teach trainees skills they can use when they return to their native nation. Once in Japan, trainees are unable to change employers, and according to the United Nations and the U.S. State Department, trainee conditions might resemble forced labor.
- According to the pay stubs that Reuters examined, Chinese trainees made around half as much money as a Japanese temporary worker would have for the same position.
- Because Japan is unique in that it needs workers but also has immigration restrictions, Subaru reportedly extensively relies on temporary employees and trainees. According to Reuters, foreign workers make almost 30% of the workforce at the Ota plants.
- The same factories that produce parts for Subaru also produce parts for Honda, Toyota, and Nissan, three other Japanese manufacturers.
- About 80% of Subaru’s vehicles are produced in Japan, and the company saw a rise in sales around the time when the law allowing for renewed six-month work licenses for asylum seekers was changed.
- Subaru claims that its suppliers must follow the law when it comes to the employment and treatment of their employees and that the business is ill-equipped to monitor all of its suppliers’ labor policies.
Do Toyota and Subaru collaborate?
The mention of Gazoo Racing strongly suggests the new vehicle will be a jointly designed sports vehicle. Toyota has yet to officially introduce the new GR86, even though Subaru had debuted the 2022 BRZ last October. But according to recent sources, Toyota intends to downplay Subaru’s role in the 86 and further distinguish the two vehicles. In addition, Subaru marketing a GR86 launch event after the new BRZ is already available seems strange.
The new Subaru Evoltis electric crossover
On an electric crossover, Toyota and Subaru are working together. It will reportedly launch in 2021 under the name Evoltis, at least in Subaru form. With approximately 280 horsepower, it should be fairly sporty. Will that EV, though, be sporty enough to merit the Toyota GR label?
The new AWD hot hatch
We are hoping for this one. After introducing the GR Yaris overseas, Toyota has all but vowed to offer a hot hatch in the United States, and according to Japanese rumors, Subaru and Toyota are developing an all-wheel-drive hatchback the size of an Impreza with between 227 and 288 horsepower. (Consider a competitor for the Hyundai Veloster N and the upcoming Volkswagen GTI.)
However, that report also stated that the car will arrive in the fall of 2022. Therefore, if it is the hot hatch, it will probably be a sneak preview release much before the real on-sale date…which is pretty normal these days.
Are Subaru and Toyota the same?
Subaru and Toyota are perhaps the first two brands that come to mind when thinking of trustworthy utilitarian vehicles. However, contrasting Subaru and Toyota is a little trickier. Since they are both Japanese brands, their aesthetics and design elements are very similar. In light of this, you should probably consider the brand comparison and which manufacturer will be best suited to your needs if you’re thinking about buying a car from one of these companies.
What you should know about Subaru vs. Toyota in terms of important features and functions, how well the cars hold up over time, and what sorts of cars each company offers, is provided here.
Subaru Vs. Toyota: Performance Comparison
Neither Subaru nor Toyota really pays the bills with performance figures when it comes to performance. However, both brands have rivals who perform better in terms of speed, power, and handling performance. This is not to mean that either brand has poor performance or has low performance.
But in terms of performance, where do both brands excel? Reliability. Both Subaru and Toyota are known for their durable, long-lasting automobiles that are purposefully overbuilt so that they can withstand any challenge.
Subaru loses a little ground to Toyota when it comes to performance indicators, notably long-term dependability. This isn’t due to the overall performance of Subaru, but rather to certain models, like the Ascent, which receive worse than average reliability ratings in tests.
Both of these brands have little interest in making their cars appear sporty. So, even if both manufacturers achieve respectable speeds and have comparable amounts of horsepower and acceleration, neither can claim to have the highest peak speed or the quickest acceleration for their class.
Therefore, even if these manufacturers perform similarly, with Toyota edging out the competition slightly, you might want to think about choosing a different brand if you’re seeking for a sportier car.
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Subaru vs. Toyota: Interior Comfort And Style
We have another really close match when it comes to the interior here. The interiors of both of these models typically reflect the fact that they are more well-known for their tough durability than their comfort.
There aren’t as many bells and whistles in Subaru’s normal release vehicles because the company has a reputation for producing low-frills vehicles.
Toyota interiors frequently have a slimmed-down profile that aims to keep you comfy but not too comfortable.
Similar materials are used by both companies, however Subaru’s interiors will last slightly longer overall.
Which, in the end, is what gives Subaru the victory in this category. Even though neither company offers many luxuries in the interior, both have very conventional options. Therefore, you must consider which interior will last while deciding whether interior is preferable for more customers.
The interiors of Subaru vehicles are built to do exactly that, and they withstand the demands of camping, cross-country road trips, young children, and even pets.
Price and Value
Again, albeit not identical, Toyota and Subaru are comparable in terms of cost and value. For years, awards for the best brand and best value have alternately been given to these two brands. Every few years, one brand will outperform the other in terms of affordability and long-term value before regaining ground.
Having said that, the worth of each brand varies slightly depending on the model year you’re considering.
We’re going to go ahead and award Subaru the victory for the most recent releases, but with a few qualifications.
Despite the fact that Subaru appears to be retaining its value a little better and is a slightly more reasonable brand for what you receive, there are a few more factors that could devalue a Subaru more than a Toyota of a comparable model.
For starters, there are fewer Subaru dealerships than Toyota ones in the US, thus Subaru repairs are a little more expensive. Additionally, Subaru’s engine architecture is more expensive to fix, and the company has a long-standing head-gasket problem that hasn’t been fully fixed.
Therefore, while Subaru may be a better deal and hold their value a little better, they can also be more expensive to own if certain things go wrong.
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Safety
Even though Toyota is undoubtedly catching up in terms of safety, we’re going to give Subaru the edge here without much of a fight. Both manufacturers focus a lot on safety and durability, but Subaru’s suite of basic safety features is just a little more extensive and a little more effective than the package of features Toyota tends to give.
We’ll give Toyota the advantage for having a more creative collection of safety features, albeit those features still need to undergo some additional performance testing to determine how effectively they operate in actual traffic.
Fuel Economy
Since these two brands are once again quite comparable across the board in most categories, we’ll concentrate on base performance ratings in terms of fuel economy. When comparing base fuel economy statistics, Toyota just edges out the competition by scoring higher for both city and highway fuel economy.
Despite this, Subaru isn’t far behind, and the two brands are comparable enough that most buyers shouldn’t likely use this as a deciding factor.
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Model Types And Varieties
These two brands are again quite evenly matched in terms of models and types of automobiles. However, Toyota performs better and offers a lot greater selection of options when it comes to several different types of vehicles. Subaru, on the other hand, may provide more options within each vehicle category, but they mostly concentrate on crossovers and small cars.
So Toyota gets the nod when it comes to variety. However, Subaru can have more complex availability if you’re seeking for a tiny car or a crossover.
Overall, we’d say that these two brands are nearly evenly matched, but we’d award Toyota the victory because it is the more versatile and utilitarian name, while Subaru triumphs in some more niche markets.
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