Subaru in South Africa
The Subaru vehicle range is manufactured by Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan and today is recognised for their innovative All-Wheel Drive technology, outstanding performance, safety and reliability.
From its beginnings in aircraft manufacturing, Fuji Heavy Industries of Japan has featured as a world-class manufacturer of a wide variety of transportation related products at the cutting edge of technology. Today, Fuji Heavy Industries comprises five manufacturing divisions - Automobile, Aerospace and Transportation Ecology Systems.
The Subaru vehicle range emanated from a long tradition of co-operation among the FHI Divisions, resulting in the development of state-of-the-art automobiles which today are recognised around the world for their outstanding performance and reliability. At the heart of Subaru's success is the unique combination of the company's trademark Horizontally-Opposed 'Boxer' engine and the All-Wheel Drive system.
Subaru entered the South African market in 1992 and was later acquired by Barloworld.
Barloworld employs some 24 000 people in 31 countries worldwide and posts an annual turnover of US$3-billion. The Group's products and services are sold in over 90 countries.
2008 saw Barloworld sell 50% of its share in Subaru Southern Africa to Toyota Tsusho Corporation. (Japan) 30%, and its local subsidiary Toyota Tsusho (Africa) 20%.
Toyota Tsusho Corporation is based in Nagoya city, Japan, and its local subsidiary, Toyota Tsusho Africa is based in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 2000 Toyota Tsusho established a company in South Africa to conduct the general management of its business operations in Africa. The importation of Subaru vehicles was facilitated by the former Tomen Corporation from 1992. The Tomen Corporation merged with Toyota Tsusho in 2006.
Subaru South Africa’s Head Office is based in Linbro Business Park Sandton, a dealership network comprising of 14 dealerships and 7 service centres that stretches across Southern Africa to include Botswana, Namibia and recently, the Seychelles.
Subaru Motor Vehicles and Parts
