Subaru cars are made by Subaru Corporation, a publicly traded Japanese automaker headquartered in Tokyo, with Toyota Motor Corporation holding an ownership stake of roughly 20 percent.
Subaru Corporation was known as Fuji Heavy Industries for most of its history and switched to the Subaru name company wide in 2017.
Toyota does not control Subaru outright. Subaru remains an independently managed public company listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange with its own board and executive team.
This guide covers who owns Subaru, its founding history, where Subaru vehicles are actually built, the current model lineup, and how the Toyota partnership shapes new Subaru products.
Table of Contents
Who Owns Subaru?
Subaru Corporation is a publicly traded Japanese company. No single shareholder owns a majority of the business.
Toyota Motor Corporation is the largest outside shareholder in Subaru, holding about 20 percent of shares after raising its position from roughly 16.5 percent in 2019.
The remaining Subaru shares trade freely on the Tokyo Stock Exchange, owned by institutional investors, pension funds, and individual shareholders.
| Company Name | Subaru Corporation |
| Formerly Known As | Fuji Heavy Industries |
| Headquarters | Ebisu, Shibuya, Tokyo, Japan |
| Founded | July 15, 1953 |
| President and CEO | Atsushi Osaki |
| Largest Outside Shareholder | Toyota Motor Corporation (about 20 percent) |
| Stock Listing | Tokyo Stock Exchange (TYO: 7270) |
| Ownership Type | Publicly traded, independently managed |
When Was Subaru Founded and Who Started It?
Subaru traces its roots to Nakajima Aircraft Company, a Japanese aircraft maker that was broken up after World War Two.
Former Nakajima divisions regrouped in 1953 to form Fuji Heavy Industries, the company that would later become Subaru Corporation.
The Subaru name arrived in 1958, chosen by company executive Kenji Kita for the first Subaru branded car, the tiny Subaru 360.
Subaru is the Japanese word for the Pleiades star cluster. The six stars in the Subaru logo represent the companies that merged to form the group.
Subaru Corporate Milestones
Former Nakajima Aircraft divisions merge to create the company that becomes Subaru Corporation.
The Subaru 360 debuts, and the Subaru brand name and star cluster logo are introduced.
Subaru begins exporting and selling vehicles in the United States market.
Subaru introduces its first all wheel drive passenger wagon, the technology that later defines the brand.
Subaru of Indiana Automotive begins production in Lafayette, Indiana.
Toyota buys an initial stake in Subaru after General Motors sells its holding.
Fuji Heavy Industries officially adopts the Subaru name for the parent company.
Toyota raises its ownership to about 20 percent and deepens joint electric vehicle development.
Where Are Subaru Cars Made?
Most Subaru vehicles sold in Japan and many export markets come from the Gunma manufacturing complex in Ota, Japan, which includes the Yajima and Oizumi plants.
Outback, Legacy, Ascent, and some Impreza models sold in North America are built at Subaru of Indiana Automotive in Lafayette, Indiana. You can read more details in our guide on where Subaru vehicles are manufactured.
The Forester, Crosstrek, WRX, and BRZ are imported from Japan rather than built in the United States.
What Models Does Subaru Currently Make?
The current Subaru lineup includes the Outback wagon, Forester compact SUV, Crosstrek subcompact SUV, and Impreza compact car.
Larger vehicles include the three row Ascent SUV and the Legacy sedan, while performance shoppers can choose the WRX sedan.
The BRZ sports coupe is co developed with Toyota and shares its platform with the Toyota GR86.
Subaru also builds the Solterra, its first mass production electric SUV, which was jointly engineered alongside the Toyota bZ4X.
Is Subaru Owned by Toyota?
No. Subaru is not owned by Toyota. Toyota is a minority shareholder with roughly a 20 percent stake and does not control Subaru operations.
Subaru keeps its own board of directors, its own manufacturing plants, and its own model development process.
The relationship is best described as a strategic partnership rather than a parent and subsidiary arrangement.
How Does the Toyota Partnership Shape Subaru Vehicles?
The clearest result of the partnership is the Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86, two nearly identical sports cars built on shared engineering.
The Subaru Solterra and Toyota bZ4X electric SUVs were co developed on a shared electric platform, splitting research costs between the two companies.
Toyota also holds a seat on discussions about future electrification, giving Subaru access to battery and hybrid technology it could not easily fund alone.
Is Subaru Really Good or Worth Buying?
- Standard all wheel drive across nearly the entire lineup
- Strong resale value compared to many mainstream brands
- History of high safety ratings, including repeat IIHS Top Safety Pick awards
- Loyal owner base built around outdoor and winter driving use
- Older EJ series engines have a known history of head gasket problems
- Continuously variable transmissions have drawn complaints in some model years
- Cargo space trails some rival compact SUVs
- Infotainment touchscreens have received mixed reviews for responsiveness
Consumer Reports and J.D. Power surveys generally place Subaru around the middle of the pack for reliability, ahead of many European brands but behind Toyota and Honda.
For buyers who prioritize standard all wheel drive, safety scores, and resale value, Subaru remains a reasonable choice among mainstream automakers.
What Is Next for Subaru?
Subaru plans to expand its electric lineup beyond the Solterra through the rest of the decade, continuing joint development work with Toyota.
The company has also introduced hybrid versions of the Crosstrek and Forester to bridge the gap before more electric models arrive.
Subaru has said it intends to keep gasoline and hybrid options available alongside electric models for longer than some rivals, citing demand in its core United States market.
Frequently Asked Questions About Who Makes Subaru
Does Toyota own Subaru?
No. Toyota owns approximately 20 percent of Subaru shares as a minority investor. Subaru remains an independently run public company.
Are Subaru and Toyota engines the same?
No, in most cases. Subaru primarily uses its own boxer engines. The main exceptions are shared platforms like the BRZ and GR86 sports coupes and the Solterra and bZ4X electric SUVs.
Where is the Subaru Forester made?
The Subaru Forester is built primarily in Japan. See our detailed breakdown in where Subaru Foresters are made for plant by plant details.
Is Subaru a reliable car brand?
Subaru generally scores near the middle of mainstream reliability rankings, with strong safety scores but some known issues in older engines and transmissions.
For official specifications and current pricing, visit the official Subaru website.
Historical background is available on the Subaru Wikipedia page, and reporting on the Toyota ownership increase can be found in this CNBC report.
How Does Subaru Compare to Other Japanese Automakers?
Toyota, Honda, and Mazda are all fully independent public companies with no controlling parent, and Subaru fits that same pattern of independence.
The difference is that Toyota holds a meaningful investment in Subaru, while Honda and Mazda have no comparable cross ownership arrangement with a larger rival.
This gives Subaru access to shared research funding that smaller independent automakers such as Mazda generally have to cover entirely on their own.
Despite the Toyota investment, Subaru dealers, factories, and warranties remain entirely separate from Toyota dealers and Toyota branded vehicles.
What Does Subaru Symmetrical All Wheel Drive Mean?
Symmetrical All Wheel Drive is the marketing name for the drivetrain layout Subaru builds into nearly every model it sells.
The system places the engine, transmission, and drive components in a straight symmetrical line down the middle of the vehicle for balanced weight distribution.
Subaru points to this layout as the reason its vehicles are popular in snowy and mountainous regions of the United States such as Colorado and New England.
Subaru by the Numbers
Subaru is a mid sized automaker compared to giants like Toyota and Volkswagen, but it holds a loyal following in specific markets.
The United States is the largest single market for Subaru, accounting for a substantial share of total global sales each year.
Subaru also has a long running reputation for supporting outdoor and conservation causes, including partnerships with United States national parks that reinforce its outdoorsy brand image.
That marketing positioning, combined with genuinely capable all wheel drive hardware, is a major reason Subaru retains loyal repeat buyers even though it is a smaller automaker than Toyota or Honda.
Buyers cross shopping the segment often compare Subaru directly against Toyota, Honda, and Mazda before deciding, since all four brands sell similarly priced compact SUVs aimed at the same everyday drivers.
Understanding the Toyota ownership stake does not change how a Subaru drives, but it does explain why Subaru could commit to costly projects like the Solterra electric SUV without shouldering the entire research bill alone.
I am Jack Neel, a mechanical engineer, researcher, and writer. I created this website to share my knowledge about different brands and products with you. I research the manufacturers behind the brands and provide you with the information you need to make smart buying decisions.