GM and Subaru announced that they are gonna build a car together for Taiwan market, it will be based on Impreza and will be badged both Subaru and GM.
This will be the first production GM badged Subaru car.
Subaru Traviq minivan in Japan was the first Subaru badged GM car.

Is it only me not liking Subaru and GM work together?
I want Subaru to be as independent as possible... but then the reality is.. to survive Subaru has to join a partnership.
I just hope GM don't do stupid thing like GEO brand. I'm glad GEO brand is gone because GM might have made GEO Impreza. Who knows?

The Impreza is a nice car. We all like it. That's basically why we're here in i-club. So if GM comes out with an Impreza-based joint venture vehicle, this would probably mean:

1. More money for Subaru, making it a more stable company with better prospects for the future.

2. A car with Impreza internals, but different styling (I don't think I need to remind you that styling is the most-often-dissed aspect of the new Impreza)

And these would be bad things -- how, exactly? Why on earth would you be troubled by these developments?

Where did you see this news?

I would like to read the whole thing.

Thanks!

The source is on-line Nikkei newspaper.
It is Japanese version of Wall Street Journal.
You need to subscribe to veiw the news but here is the link.
Nikkei headlines (http://www.nni.nikkei.co.jp/FR/TNKS/industry.htm)
At least you can see to line of the headline.
The news was on Sunday 21 Oct.

Maybe you can find the same news from WSJ or other industry newspaper.

subaru is part of fuji heavy industries after all, aren't they? how independent are they really?

and hey, don't be dissin no GEO storms here, that was a MAD car! haha :rolleyes:
jk of course


eagle talons were pretty cool though

subaru is part of fuji heavy industries after all, aren't they? how independent are they really?
good question...
My understanding is... Subaru=FHI. Subaru is the name for automobile division of FujiHeavyIndustry, and actually there is no company called Subaru.
It's like Acura of Honda. There is no company called Acura. It makes no sense talking how independent Acura is from Honda because Acura is Honda. Subaru and FHI is just like that.
FHI has Aerospace division which makes parts of F16 and other commertial and military jets.
Also they have industrial machine division called Robin.

The reason I pulled GEO is because I thought it was interesting how GM recognize Subaru as the same level of partnership as Fiat, Suzuki, and Isuzu.
Suzuki and Isuzu was the ones who provided GEO, except for the Prism. Go to gm.com and they list all the brands including Subaru in their website. You can see how SAAB and OPEL are full GM brands along with Chevy and such, then list Subaru, Suzuki, Isuzu, and Fiat as 'GM network'.

Fuji Heavy Industries is the name of a company that makes trucks, cars and other stuff too. The Subaru division of FHI accounts for approximately 90% of their sales.

The only reason why I'm a little concerned is because reliability was a huge factor in the purchase of my Impreza. I don't consider American cars to be as reliable as some foreign cars. But I think GM is cool, they make Saturns and they're reliable. Just be happy Subaru didn't team up with Ford :lol:.

I read that Subaru is plans to gain hybrid technology from GM; it'll cut down on their R&D cost.

:o Greg

NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! I OWNED A GM ONCE AND I THINK WE ALL KNOW AMERICAN CARS ARE HORRIBLE. Only GM products can break down for no reason (the engine/tranny died suddenly on mine). I was a fool for ever buying one. THEY AREN'T RELIABLE CARS. I BUY SUBARU BECAUSE THEY ARE JAPANESE AND A VERY RELIABLE MANUFACTURER. HISTORY HAS SHOWN THAT WHEN AN AMERICAN COMPANY BUILDS CARS FOR ANOTHER COMPANY THINGS GO BAD! LOOK AT VOLVO, THEY HAD RECALLS WITHIN MONTHS OF FORD OWNING THEM. HOW ABOUT THE CAR OF THE YEAR, FORD FOCUS!!! IT IS UGLY AND IT WAS RECALLED WITHIN MONTHS OF IT'S RELEASE. ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW IS THAT GM IS BAD AND THEIR TRACK RECORD WILL SHOW YOU SO. Any Subaru made by GM is a Subaru I will never buy.

As more evidence of the Subaru-GM alliance, during an interview/
roadtest of some GM concept cars (I think it was the Borega??)
on Motorweek, the GM spokes person came right out and said
something to the effect of: "it's all wheel drive and blah, blah,
blah and fun to drive, just like a Subaru".

I thought that a direct good copmparison to a competitor was
kind of strange.

SubaruStu

This was all planned from the beginning. From FHI's 5 year business plan (http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/2000/5_29.htm) dated May 2000.
"North America
- Strengthen three mainstay models (full model changes, horizontally opposed six-cylinder engine, introduction of turbo models, etc.)
- Launch a 4-door pick-up based on Legacy (Starting 2002)
- Product exchange with GM
- Subaru dealer development supported by GM
- Utilization of GM expertise, systems and infrastructures (automobile loans: GMAC, internet: e-GM)

- Automobile product development
- Jointly develop a new-concept SUW with GM (launch by fiscal 2005 or 2006)
- Develop a compact car for Europe and a minicar in cooperation with GM and Suzuki
- Strengthen engineering development capabilities (increase engineers by 200; more computer aided development process) "

Dennis

Originally posted by tatical
Fuji Heavy Industries is the name of a company that makes trucks, cars and other stuff too. The Subaru division of FHI accounts for approximately 90% of their sales.

The only reason why I'm a little concerned is because reliability was a huge factor in the purchase of my Impreza. I don't consider American cars to be as reliable as some foreign cars. But I think GM is cool, they make Saturns and they're reliable. Just be happy Subaru didn't team up with Ford :lol:.

I read that Subaru is plans to gain hybrid technology from GM; it'll cut down on their R&D cost.

:o Greg

I beg to differ! Saturn may be more reliable then Chevrolet, but they are not in the same ballpark as Subaru/Toyota/Honda... The reason Saturn survives is because their dealerships have no pressure salesmen and are actually very nice.. If I didn't give a shiat what kind of car I owned and were concerned with dealer customer service, I'd probably buy a Saturn. But, Customer Service does not a good car make! Saturn's however, are much better then the other domestic small cars (focus, cavalier,neon), but do not come close to Imprezas,Sentras, etc.. So far, GM has done a lot of stuff with Toyota, and Toyota is probably the strongest car company out there right now. Isuzu and Suzuki sucked before GM so you really can't consider them... And I think Chrysler takes the cake for ruining Japanese car companies.. 10 years ago, Mitsubishi was a strong up and coming Japanese car company with a very diverse line. Now, after 10 years of serious Chrysler intervention they make Hyundai's look reliable and appealing.. That is pretty sad! (and Mercedes never looked as shiatty!) Ford is second for really hurting Mazda, and GM sofar has yet to "ruin" a foreign brand. -Sean

well said opusguru

American companies are far behind foreign companies in most aspects whether it be styling, performance and especially reliability. I Consider the best in reliability to be among Subaru/Toyota/Honda and the track records of these companies proves it. Go and look at how many recalls you see on Japanese cars...........it will be unbelievable to people who love American cars. Ford/GM are out to ruin every good name. Perhaps it has been their plan all along :). Seriously, think about it. If they own the competition and ruin their great reputation then it will make their cars more competitive since their old competition will be making cars just as horrible as they currently produce. I think people should boycott foreign companies that are owned by American manufacturers because they're sure to bring automotive reliability down.

NOOOOOOOOOOO
i want the stx to be all scoobie.
if it is anything like the prototype was i have to get one

what ever happened to GM putting Subaru's AWD in a Saab? a viggen with AWD ...yum yum

I don't like the idea that Subaru and GM work together. And I hate the idea that 2 US GM executives are going to work in Subaru. I want Subaru to be a pure Japanese car maker.

Now, are they going to work at Subaru? Or are they going to be on the Subaru board of directors? Now thats something to get worried about. Sofar GM has no one on the board of directors. They make all the important decisions. Working with GM is one thing, but being told what to do by GM.. That's when Subaru is in trouble. The day a Cavalier shares the same platform as an Impreza is the day I buy a Honda!

-Sean

I would assume with 20%+ ownership now, that it does give them voting powers on the board. (usually) :(

JJ
www.imprezawrxsti.com
All STi, All The Time

I believe everyone's worst nightmare has already happened. GM needed a sport ute (sport cute?) that would meet CAFE requirements in the near future. GM has already developed a near market prototype using "advanced AWD technology with a horizontally opposed engine" ... I think its called the Barrado?

As a former GM engineer, I can freely predict that the "bowtie" folks will probably strangle Subaru initiative. Too many bean counters and stuffed suits telling you that it can't be done.

But on the positive side, GM's deep pockets may go into developing a better product. May I suggest starting with the
5-MT tranny?

Originally posted by T-WRX-02
But on the positive side, GM's deep pockets may go into developing a better product. May I suggest starting with the
5-MT tranny?
Sad, but true ; it's been five MY's of inferior clutch/ transmission woes. Maybe GM can set Subaru right:devil:

interesting... but in the end, I can only see this as being good overall for Subaru as a whole.

According to "4car," a UK auto publication, the concept WX-01 "may" be a hint of the larger platform 7-passenger car that Subaru and GM are working on together. It is based on the GM Epsilon platform (the underpinnings for the new Vauxhall Vectra, Cadillac CTS and Saab 9-3).

In the following link, go to" Toyko Motor Show," then to "Manufacturers," then select "Subaru."

http://www.4car.co.uk/

Bob