Subaru swap Engineers with Toyota

Toyota and Subaru have swapped more than 100 engineers in order to explore possible synergies between the two auto makers. Toyota sent about 100-150 over to Subaru and vice versa, a couple months after Toyota purchased a stake in Fuji. The alliance also has opened doors for other opportunities, such as technology swapping, so Subaru may adapt Toyota’s hybrid technology for use in one of its vehicles.

“That exchange started a couple months after the agreement was reached for Toyota to invest in 8.7% of our parent (Fuji).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.”

Toyota could also choose to borrow some of the auto maker’s signature all-wheel-drive technology. Adding Camry production at Subaru’s Lafayette plant has proved mutually beneficial.

“The development (of hybrid-electric vehicles) is half the battle. And I think that’s what we’re kind of hoping to get from the alliance; the expertise behind making it a seamless powertrain alternative over the long-term. It’s something our senior leadership has said is one of the reasons we wanted the alliance.” David Sullivan says. ( product car line manager)