scoobyslut

Well, no doubts it will happen, its just a case of when. I dont think that International Motors are going to retain the Subaru franchise for too long. Subaru Japan is making enquiries in Europe as to locating a centralised supply centre, ensuring the full dealer network can still be covered within a 3 day link by road/rail.
IM have already been putting feelers out to gain other franchises including Alfa, of which they will not confirm or deny, so the writing is there on the wall, just dont know how long the wall will stay standing. Any ideas?

Phil

Where do you get all this?

Spent the day with IM last week, the Subaru Franchise is going no where IMHO

APIDavid

iTrader: (4)

A dealer was telling me that recently IM signed a new contract with Fuji Heavy to either 2008 or for another 8 years can't remember which.

If that is the case then it'll take an amount of money to prise it away from IM in my opinion.

David API

Pete Croney

Subaru Europe has been distributing parts for quite some time now.

http://www.fhi.co.jp/english/news/pr.../02_03_28a.htm

scoobyslut

Yes it will take some financial "carrot" to be waved in front of a certain face, but it is not outside Subaru Japans limits, as what is the cost of paying someone off now, as it simply means that , what International motors will normally have to wait 5-8 yrs for in regards money, they now get as a one off lump sum now. What would you prefer to have?
Money in the bank now, or wait 8yrs?

The water is already being tested by the transport company who shifts the cars for IM, to see what time scale it would take and the costs involved to move the stock point over to Europe and not in the UK.
People can say a lot of things to hide facts, but when a lot of other bits of information "come together" behind the scenes, the facts can have a different outlook.
I'm not saying this is going to happen overnight,but there are things going on no one will admit to "yet" or deny.
I dont think anyone will get a proper answer to this untill "it happens" as it may cause a dramatic shift in car sales which will definately cause even more problems than it resolves.
So everything will have to be put in place "before" any announcements will be broadcast by anyone.

johnfelstead

the only market Subaru control themselves outside of Japan is the USA, and that is because they sell a huge amount of cars there. UK is too small to bother over as far as FHI is concerned, sad but true.

22 FUJI HEAVY INDUSTRIES LTD.

Sales by region
2002 2001
Japan 264,257 290,301
U.S.A. 191,381 172,686
Canada 15,632 15,005
Europe 32,373 39,951
Australia 26,923 27,976
Others 12,675 14,378
Subtotal 543,241 560,297
CKD* in Overseas 3,288 3,941
Total 546,529 564,238