Fuji Heavy Industries has launched its new Trezia compact car in Japan, the first model supplied by Toyota since the signing of an alliance between the two carmakers in 2008.
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The partnership allows Fuji to focus on four-wheel drive vehicles and sports cars. Toyota, which holds a 16% stake in its alliance partner, provides Fuji Heavy with small cars which are then sold under the Subaru brand.
Ikuo Mori, president of Fuji Heavy, said: “We will pursue our compact car business on an OEM basis under the alliance.”
Fuji is targeting sales of 1,000 Trezias per month. The model is based on Toyota’s Ractis [Verso S] model with a modified exterior. The Subaru brand is in need of a compact as it looks to boost sales following the expiry of government purchasing subsides in September, Mori added.
Toyota and Fuji are also jointly developing a sports car, which they aim to roll out by the end of 2011.
