What is the relationship between Toyota and Subaru?

[SanMicah]

Toyota is the largest shareholder of Subaru Corporation. Here is the relevant introduction: Introduction to the relationship between Toyota and Subaru: Subaru is a member of the Toyota Group. Toyota is the largest shareholder of Subaru, and the two companies are affiliated with a cooperative relationship. Toyota Motor Corporation purchased shares from General Motors in 2005. Initially, GM owned 20% of Subaru's shares, but due to GM's financial crisis in 2005, it sold all its Subaru shares. Subaru repurchased 11%, and due to Japan's antitrust laws, Toyota could only purchase a maximum of 8.7% of the shares, with the remaining 1% bought by an unknown bank. Introduction to Subaru: Subaru's predecessor was a Japanese fighter aircraft manufacturer, with highly mature technical capabilities. Subaru is most renowned for its engine and all-wheel-drive technologies, which even the Toyota Group cannot match.

[DeAbigail]

I'm quite particular about car brands, and I've always felt that the relationship between Toyota and Subaru is as close as brothers. Toyota bought about 16% of Subaru's shares as early as the 2000s, especially helping a lot during the financial crisis to stabilize Subaru's business. They don't simply compete but engage in deep collaboration, such as jointly developing sports cars like the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, sharing chassis and engine technology, and even using the horizontally opposed engine in multiple models. This significantly reduces costs and allows consumers to buy high-quality cars under different brands. Now, they are also collaborating in the electric vehicle sector, with the newly released bZ4X being a result of this partnership. In short, this partnership is based on mutual benefit, with no one being swallowed up, but rather leveraging each other's strengths to drive innovation, making car enthusiasts like me look forward to more surprises. As a car lover, I think this reflects the spirit of unity in the automotive industry.

[StChristopher]

I talk a lot about the car scene, and the collaboration story between Toyota and Subaru always excites me. The core is that Toyota holds about 16% of Subaru's shares, supporting their R&D efforts, and then the two jointly develop cars, such as the classic twin sports cars, the 86 and BRZ, which are entirely built on shared platforms and engine development. This is no small matter—it reduces each company's development costs and accelerates the launch of new products. Subaru's AWD system and engine designs are utilized by Toyota in their vehicles, while in turn, Toyota's manufacturing scale helps Subaru expand its market presence. Their relationship isn't a merger but a strategic alliance, with plans to strengthen cooperation in hybrid and electric vehicles in the future, continuously updating new models. As an enthusiast, I get to experience a richer selection of cars, like driving a Subaru with Toyota's reliability. This partnership has made both companies stronger, facing industry changes with greater ease.

[Anthony]

Simply put, Toyota and Subaru have a partnership. Toyota purchased a portion of Subaru's shares, approximately 16%, helping to stabilize Subaru's operations. They also collaborate on car development, such as the Toyota 86 and Subaru BRZ, which share technology and platforms, offering nearly identical performance with only the branding differing. This sharing reduces costs, improves efficiency, and allows consumers to purchase more affordable, innovative vehicles. Subaru's engine advantages are leveraged by Toyota, while Toyota's resources support Subaru's R&D. In the future, they may continue collaborating on electric vehicle projects to launch new models. As an average car owner, I think this relationship is great—it means more stable quality and service, unaffected by competition. In short, the partnership model makes the automotive world more friendly.