Toyota to develop hybrid systems with Subaru-maker Fuji Heavy: report

0 Comments | AFP, March, 2006

TOKYO (AFP) — Leading Japanese automaker Toyota Motor Corp. has agreed to jointly develop hybrid systems with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., a report said.

The firms planned to use the technology in Subaru's Legacy models in two to three years, the Nihon Keizai Shimbun said without citing sources.

The firms' presidents would announce details on Monday, it said.

Toyota became the top shareholder of Fuji Heavy last year when it purchased Fuji Heavy shares from General Motors.

The auto giant originally intended to supply hybrid systems to Fuji Heavy, but the companies had decided to jointly design gasoline-electric hybrid technologies because existing systems could not readily be used with the Subaru's horizontally opposed engines, the newspaper said....