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April 17, 2003 (Nikkei)
Suzuki, Fuji Heavy To Strengthen Partnership
Suzuki Motor Corp. plans to strengthen its ties with Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., with which it has a capital alliance.
Suzuki's president, Hiroshi Tsuda, on Wednesday outlined new partnership areas, including minivehicle engine supply and parts material development. At present, Suzuki and Fuji Heavy are promoting standardization in the area of minivehicles, including standardization of chassis and suspension parts. Now the companies will broaden their collaboration in the area of minivehicles, extending their partnership to engine supply and parts material development, such as resins. Both companies produce different key engines for minivehicles, with Suzuki manufacturing a three-cylinder type and Fuji Heavy a four-cylinder type. In addition, Suzuki plans to accelerate the pace of its development with General Motors Corp. in the area of low-polluting vehicles such as fuel cell cars. The two firms will aim to bring a compact fuel cell vehicle to the market in 2010. General Motors is the top investor in both Suzuki and Fuji Heavy, and in 2000 both Suzuki Motor and Fuji Heavy made investments in each other.
Suzuki's vehicle production worldwide in fiscal 2002 climbed back to the 1.8 million units for the first time in three years. By fiscal 2005, it aims to reach the 2 million vehicle mark for the first time.

April 17, 2003 (Japan Times)
Fuji Heavy, Saab Plan Car Together
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. and Saab Automobile AB of Sweden said Wednesday they will collaborate on the development of a new Saab vehicle and on the distribution of Saab vehicles in Japan. Fuji Heavy Industries produces Subaru vehicles and is 21 percent owned by General Motors Corp. of the United States; Saab is wholly owned by the U.S. auto giant. The firms will develop the Saab 9-2 in an effort to attract new, younger customers to the Saab brand. Saab will launch a four-wheel drive version of the Saab 9-2 hatchback in North America next year, the firms said. The vehicles, based on the Impreza model produced by Fuji Heavy Industries, will be made in Japan and exported to North America, they said. Kyoji Takenaka, president of Fuji Heavy Industries, said the new joint development project "will enable Saab to participate in a whole new market segment with greatly reduced development time and investment." "At the same time, it will enable Fuji Heavy Industries to increase the operation rates at our plants and strengthen our financial position."
Meanwhile, beginning in June, Saab will start selling its vehicles in Japan at Subaru dealerships, according to the companies. The first Fuji Heavy dealers to feature the Saab lineup will be the Tokyo Subaru Machida showroom, the Kanagawa Subaru Konan showroom and the Osaka Subaru Tezukayama showroom, they said. Yanase & Co., Japan's largest dealer of imported cars, has been the primary marketer of Saab vehicles in Japan. The addition of Subaru dealerships is aimed at boosting Saab sales, GM said. Other joint projects involving Fuji Heavy Industries and GM, which have been strategic alliance partners since 1999, include the Subaru Traviq minivan, which is made at a GM plant in Thailand, as well as the Chevrolet Forester, which is exported to the Indian market from a Fuji Heavy Industries plant in Japan, they said.<hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>

CU


Jan

the boost is strong in my family. my car has it, my club has it...and my friends...yes,it's you - you've got it,too.