New Blood: Toyota and Subaru Swap Over 100 Engineers

Toyota Motor Corp. and Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. have swapped more than 100 engineers in order to explore possible synergies between the two auto makers, a Subaru of America Inc. official says.

“Toyota sent about 100-150 over to Subaru and vice versa,” David Sullivan, product car line manager for SOA, tells Ward’s at a media event here.

“That exchange started a couple months after the agreement was reached for Toyota to invest in 8.7% of our parent (Fuji),” he says. “So there’s some intermingling going on right now, and in a year or two I think you’ll see that bear some fruit for both companies.”


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chuck717 - 4/26/2007 12:38:46 PM

+5 Boost

Well they haven't got married yet , just living together, but the Japanese society frowns on living in sin, look for these two to hook up by mid 2008?

AMGC55 - 4/26/2007 3:58:25 PM

+4 Boost

Toyota guys are like hey look the awd system on these cars rock... while the subaru car guys are like why exactly do we work for suburu when we could be working here

WeAreMad - 4/26/2007 4:56:20 PM

+9 Boost

One night toyota and subie were incredibly drunk. Had a one night-stand. A few months later, Subie called toyota and informed them they were expecting a new wrx. Out came the new wrx which has the looks of the toyota family and the drivetrain of a Subaru. now toyota has to meet the the parents, Fuji Heavy Ind, and plan a wedding. so they each send their wedding planners, engineers, for the big event.

lol

kart1 - 4/27/2007 7:00:12 PM

+1 Boost

well said ;).

EnnNorak - 4/26/2007 5:40:24 PM

+4 Boost

Great idea if that will result in Toyota making all its vehicles available with the AWD system that is currently standard on the Subaru WRX STI

david999 - 4/26/2007 5:58:03 PM

+1 Boost

Some of the German companies should be exchanging engineers with Toyota to try and improve reliability.

XYZZ - 4/26/2007 9:22:36 PM

+6 Boost

well, porsche did supposedly approach toyota about rights to their Synergy Hybrid system.

but the other german companies apparently are still TOO full of pride to believe they can learn anything more. and the comparative RELIABILITIES of the products reflect that.

ThaR8Don - 4/27/2007 12:51:31 PM

+1 Boost

AlexApex, the reliabilities do not all have to do with being better. Toyota has used considerably less technologies in their cars including Lexus until recently. And recently they started to slide for the top of the reliability heap. These are just facts. As for Hybrid technology, the germans have tyoed with it for years but they feel and the market indicates it is only a passing fad. The true furture is in diesel

1970toyotamarc - 4/27/2007 4:11:08 PM

+1 Boost

Less technologies until recently? that is such b.s. Toy/Lex engines have been some of the most techinically advanced in the world since at least the '80s. Multi-valve, VVT....Toyota was putting these in their engines long before the domestics and most Euro mfrs got around to it. (I think Fiat might be the exception)

EnnNorak - 4/26/2007 6:06:43 PM

+5 Boost

As for German/ Japanese car company staff exchanges, any German car company having quality problems should simply lure away some of Japan's best QA managers by offering them a huge salary to work in Germany for a while. Good quality control demands a fanatical disciplined approach that only a dedicated Japanese martial arts type of person can provide.

crazypetrolhead - 4/26/2007 7:59:29 PM

-3 Boost

if theres a hybrid wrx, the worlds ending...

LexusNumberOne4ever - 4/27/2007 5:48:43 AM

+2 Boost

Like an AWD, turbo ES-F?

Mmmm....

XYZZ - 4/26/2007 9:25:51 PM

+5 Boost

lotta GOOD ideas.

also lotta unexplainable de-boosts to 'em. must be the german fan boys, with the constant internecine wars among themselves, are JEALOUS of the future prospects of both toyota and subaru. ;)

LexusNumberOne4ever - 4/27/2007 8:54:01 AM

+1 Boost

That's true! Deutschland's reign is over.