Subaru Corporation
| File:Subaru logo.svg Corporate logo adopted in 2003 from the Subaru automobile division | |
| Company type | Public |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive, Aerospace, Defense, Manufacturing |
| Predecessor | Nakajima Aircraft Company (as part of roots) |
| Founded | July 15, 1953 |
| Headquarters | Japan , Japan |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Atsushi Osaki (President & CEO, 2023–present) |
| Products | Automobiles, helicopters, aircraft, military defense equipment, railway rolling stock components |
| Parent | None |
| Website | www |
, previously known as , is a Japanese multinational corporation and conglomerate specializing in manufacturing for terrestrial and aerospace transportation sectors. Renowned primarily for its Subaru automobile brand, the company was established in 1953 and underwent a rebranding from Fuji Heavy Industries in 2017. Its aerospace segment functions as a defense contractor for the Japanese government, producing helicopters and aircraft under license from Boeing and Lockheed Martin. Additionally, this division collaborates globally as a development and manufacturing partner with both aerospace giants.
History
Fuji Heavy Industries (FHI) traces its roots to the Nakajima Aircraft Company, a significant supplier of aircraft to the Japanese government during World War II. Following the war, Allied Occupation policies dismantled Nakajima under keiretsu regulations, and by 1950, a portion of the business operated under the name Fuji Heavy Industries.
The official formation of FHI occurred on July 15, 1953, through the consolidation of five firms—Fuji Kogyo, Fuji Jidosha Kogyo, Omiya Fuji Kogyo, Utsunomiya Sharyo, and Tokyo Fuji Sangyo—creating one of Japan’s foremost manufacturers of transportation equipment.
By the late 1980s, FHI had become a principal supplier of military, aerospace, and railway products within Japan, with automobiles accounting for 80% of its revenue. However, in 1989 sales declined by 15%, reaching US$4.3 billion. The following year, after reporting losses exceeding US$500 million, the Industrial Bank of Japan requested intervention from Nissan, which held a 4.2% stake. Nissan appointed Isamu Kawai as FHI’s leader. In 1991, FHI commenced contract production of Nissan Pulsar sedans and hatchbacks.
Currently operating as Subaru Corporation, the company manufactures Subaru vehicles alongside aerospace products such as utility and attack helicopters for the Japanese Self Defense Force, trainer aircraft, unmanned aerial vehicles, and center wing sections for Boeing 777 and Boeing 787 airplanes. Historically, FHI also supplied components for business jets produced by Hawker Beechcraft and Eclipse Aviation.
In 2003, FHI adopted the logo from its Subaru automobile division as its corporate emblem.
On October 5, 2005, Toyota acquired an 8.7% stake in FHI from General Motors, which had owned 20.1% since 1999. GM subsequently sold its remaining 11.4% holding. Following Toyota’s investment, a contract signed in March 2006 permitted use of Subaru’s underutilized manufacturing plant in Lafayette, Indiana. This arrangement involved hiring up to 1,000 employees and dedicating an assembly line to produce the Toyota Camry, starting mid-2007.
In June 2014, FHI became part of a consortium contracted by Boeing Commercial Airplanes to manufacture components for the Boeing 777X model.
In May 2016, Fuji Heavy Industries announced plans to rename itself Subaru Corporation, effective April 1, 2017.
Leadership
- Kenji Kita (1953–1956)
- Takao Yoshida (1956–1963)
- Nobuo Yokoda (1963–1970)
- Eiichi Ohara (1970–1978)
- Sasaki Sadamichi (1978–1985)
- Toshihiro Tajima (1985–1990)
- Isamu Kawaii (1990–1996)
- Takeshi Tanaka (1996–2001)
- Kyoji Takenaka (2001–2006)
- Ikuo Mori (2006–2011)
- Yasuyuki Yoshinaga (2011–2018)
- Tomomi Nakamura (2018–2023)
- Atsushi Osaki (2023–present)
Divisions
Subaru is structured into two main sectors:
- The automobile sector, known as Subaru.
- The aerospace sector, which serves as a contractor for the Japan Defense Agency, handles the marketing and sales of both commercial and defense-related aircraft, helicopters, and target drones. This division also offers maintenance services for the Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft. Historically, it manufactured the Fuji FA-200 Aero Subaru and contributes to projects such as the Airbus A380, Boeing 777, Boeing 787, Hawker 4000, and Eclipse 500, while supplying components for the Boeing 737, Boeing 747, and Boeing 767.
Former divisions
- Production of buses and railroad cars was discontinued in 2003.
- The eco technology sector was responsible for manufacturing and selling garbage trucks, robotic street sweepers, and wind turbines.
- The Subaru Industrial Power Products division, which ceased operations in 2017, produced commercial engines, pumps, and generators under the Subaru-Robin and Robin labels. This division began producing "Star" engines for Polaris Industries snowmobiles in 1968 but stopped engine manufacturing in 1998 after Polaris developed its own engines. Subaru continues to collaborate with Polaris as a piston supplier, having delivered over two million engines for Polaris snowmobiles, ATVs, watercraft, and utility vehicles.
Bus models
- R13
- 13
- 3A/3B/3D/3E
- R1/R2
- R14
- 14
- 4B/4E
- R15
- 5B/5E
- R1/R2/R3
- HD1/HD2/HD3
- Double-decker
- R16
- 6B/6E
- H1
- R17
- 7B/7E
- 7HD
- 7S
- R18
- 8B/8E
- R21
- 1M/1S
Aircraft
- Fuji FA-200 Aero Subaru (1965) – monoplane/light aircraft
- Fuji/Rockwell Commander 700 (1975) – light transport aircraft
- Fuji KM-2 (1962) – light primary military trainer
- Fuji LM-1 Nikko (1955) – light communications military plane
- Fuji T-1 (1958) – intermediate jet trainer for military use
- Fuji T-3/KM-2 (1974) – primary military trainer
- Fuji T-5/KM-2 Kai (1984) – basic military trainer
- Fuji T-7/T-3 Kai (1998) – primary military trainer
- Fuji TACOM UAV
- Subaru-Bell UH-X – current project aimed at replacing the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force's UH-1J helicopter, developed in partnership with Bell Helicopter. A variant may also be adopted by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force for its new patrol helicopter requirements.
Railway rolling stock
Some units were manufactured during the Utsunomiya Sharyo period (1950–1955).
Japan
- Diesel multiple units (DMU)
- Japanese National Railways (JNR) – includes KiHa series such as 10, 20, 35, 40, 45, 55, 58, 80, 181, 183, 185, KiYa 191 series; also KiHa types 31, 32, 37, and 54
- JR Hokkaido – KiHa series including 150, 201, 281, 283, and 261
- JR East – KiHa series 100 and 110
- JR Central – KiHa series 85
- JR Shikoku – series 2000
- Mooka Railway – Mooka type 14 (the last railway product by Subaru)
- Chizu Express – HOT7000 series
- Passenger coaches
- JNR – passenger cars from series 10, 12, 14, 24, and 50
- JR East – E26 Cassiopeia series
- Electric multiple units (EMU)
- JNR – series 70 and 80
- Tobu Railway – various series including 300, 2000, 5000, 6050, 8000, 9000, 10000, and 30000
- Tokyo subway (TRTA) – series 2000
- Trams
- Tobu Railway – series 100 and 200
- Tokyo Metropolitan Bureau of Transportation – types 2500 and 6000
Russia
- DMU -
Thailand
- DMU -
External links
- Bibliographic resources related to Fuji Heavy Industries
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Subaru
- Companies listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange
- Companies in the Nikkei 225
- Aerospace companies of Japan
- Aircraft manufacturers of Japan
- Bus manufacturers of Japan
- Defense companies of Japan
- Engine manufacturers of Japan
- Helicopter manufacturers of Japan
- Robotics companies of Japan
- Scooter manufacturers
- Nissan
- Mizuho Financial Group
- Toyota Group
- Conglomerate companies of Japan
- Japanese companies established in 1953
- Vehicle manufacturing companies established in 1953
- 1960s initial public offerings
- Multinational companies headquartered in Japan
- Japanese brands