A change to Japan’s antitrust laws on the first of this month has paved the way for industry giant Toyota to take over Fuji Heavy Industries, the parent company of Subaru. Toyota has owned an 8.7% minority stake in Fuji Heavy since October 2005 but this is set to increase to a controlling stake in the near future. Now, in a recent interview with The Car Connection, CEO of Subaru Ikuo Mori admitted that his company would likely cease to exist without the aid of Toyota, but don’t expect it to become just another Toyota division.
The partnership between the two kicked into full swing last year after Subaru cut its ties with General Motors. “The reason we stopped that alliance with GM was because of their own difficulties,” said Mori, adding “the result were not good with GM.” Subaru was in need of a savior and in came Toyota.
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