Bye bye GM...Hello Toyota

[Stevebsy]

With all apologies to Shadow048...

Toyota Buys Stake in Fuji Heavy From GM

http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/051005/japan_toyota.html?.v=11

TOKYO (AP) -- Toyota has agreed to buy an 8.7 percent stake in Japanese automaker Fuji Heavy Industries from General Motors Corp., officials from both companies said Wednesday, in a deal that will make Toyota the top shareholder in the company that makes Subaru cars.

GM and Fuji agreed to dissolve their alliance and capital relationship, said Toyota executive vice president Mitsuo Kino****a and Fuji Heavy President Kyoji Takenaka at a joint news conference. GM will sell its remaining 11.4 percent stake in Fuji in the market.

Toyota Motor Corp. and Fuji are setting up a steering committee to try to reach an agreement on future collaboration as soon as possible, the companies said.

Toyota has been on a roll lately, boosting sales in North America, Europe and other parts of Asia and recording booming profits. GM, based in Detroit, has been in trouble, losing $1.1 billion in the first quarter.

GM and Toyota have a long-standing partnership to share environmental technology, and they run a car assembly plant in California together, although the ties do not involve holding stakes in each other.

Toyota Chairman Hiroshi Okuda has expressed worries lately about a possible political backlash from U.S. automakers because of Toyota's bright results at a time when GM and Ford are faltering.

He even suggested Toyota raise the price of car models in the United States. Toyota raised prices soon after, but denied the move was to placate U.S. automakers.

Toyota, based in central Japan's Toyota city, holds stakes in two other Japanese automakers, Daihatsu Motor Co., which makes small cars, and Hino Motors, which makes trucks.

[SilverSpear]

Man!!! this is the same thread AGAIN !!! there are now three of it , this proves that the guys are really committed to all subaru news and findings... cool

[Bobb]

Hi everyone, This is the best automotive news ever. I can't beleave that the general finally figuered out that Subaru was not going to fit in with its global plans. Sometimes the good guys DO win. Take care, BOBB

[Seraph]

No..... that mean I can't get Subaru Parts that much cheaper.

[awdsvx]

Woooohooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am so happy, I think I will buy Subaru products again even more so now that Toyota is involved!!!!!!!!! The quality will be better in the future with Subaru cars thanks to Toyota technology. I was so disappointed when Fuji sold out to G.M. It made me go out and not buy the new Legacy GT, instead I bought my Volvo S60 R with 300 HP and AWD. This is awsome news, I was hoping Porsche & Subaru before, since they use the same basice engine technology. But I am just glad no more G.M. / Fuji!!!!!

[msvx95]

This sounds like great news. Considering Toyota is one of the first huge auto markets to be into lean manufacturing. I can sleep better knowing parts will be made with more quality, problems can be pinpointed and solved right away, customers will get answers sooner......all because of a Kaizen attitude.

Super!

[bwb3]

What's GM going to do with Saab now? No more thinly disguised Imprezza?
Gene

[SSSVX]

Usually,

Toyota = more reliable...

[AppStateSVX]

I agree with the above though, what is this going to do to the price of parts?

[Chiketkd]

...the first product of the Subaru-Toyota partnership due out in '08 as an '09 model is the 'pooper' scooter.



-Chike

P.S. I wonder what the mile-per-turd rating is on that beauty!

[bwb3]

Toyota is also developing this methane powered hybrid.

[Noir]

Originally Posted by Stevebsy

Toyota has been on a roll lately, boosting sales in North America, Europe and other parts of Asia and recording booming profits. GM, based in Detroit, has been in trouble, losing $1.1 billion in the first quarter.

Unpossible. The quality of GM vehicles have matched or exceeded many Japanese marque's. They are less expensive than Japanese imports and run much better. Why would they be in trouble? And if they really are in trouble, it's because of management and marketing, not because their cars suck!

Come on now, where is the proof that they are losing $1.1 billion. I don't believe it cause it's unpossible.

MAC's for teh win, Stevebsy, MAC's for teh win!!!!!!

[Beav]

Unsold inventory vs. sales projections = a loss in U.S. bs business stories.

GM, and others, have come a long way since the quality/reliability disparity of the '70s & '80s. The Japanese cars have vascillated in these areas, some are better, others not. Across the board I've have to disagree that GM is anywhere near the typical Japanese car's quality or reliability.

Seems to me that y'all forgot that GM & Toyota have been sleeping together for many years now. If GM sells something to Toyota does that really indicate a transfer of ownership? Sounds like more corporate .... what's the word I'm looking for here?

Gotta chuckle that the nanny edited the poor guy's name above.

[Shadow248]

Originally Posted by Beav

GM, and others, have come a long way since the quality/reliability disparity of the '70s & '80s. The Japanese cars have vascillated in these areas, some are better, others not.

True

Originally Posted by Beav

Across the board I've have to disagree that GM is anywhere near the typical Japanese car's quality or reliability.

We've only been over this subject 500,000,000,000,000,000,001 times, so i'll leave it alone. Opinions are opinions...but I think the words "anywhere near" puts this in the "inaccurate" category.

Originally Posted by Beav

Seems to me that y'all forgot that GM & Toyota have been sleeping together for many years now. If GM sells something to Toyota does that really indicate a transfer of ownership?

Look at that...a good point!

Note to all: your crazy if you think that this event means anything positive for Subaru. It doesn't help your parts prices, it doesn't promise any addition of excitement to the Subaru lineup (do you really want to drive Camry's?), and though it could improve quality, it would be indescernable since the few parts that Toyota would contribute would hardly be enough to make a difference. So basically all you have is a boring future with expensive parts.

Enjoy.

[Noir]

Originally Posted by Shadow248

So basically all you have is a boring future with expensive parts.

Enjoy.

I don't really find domestics all that exciting either.