Author: Subaru Official News

January 23, 2019

Production halt at Gunma Manufacturing Division
due to component defect in certain models

On January 16, 2019, Subaru Corporation (“Subaru”) identified a possible defect in certain vehicle component used in some of its models manufactured at its Gunma manufacturing plant (“Gunma Plant”). To ensure quality and safety of its vehicles, Subaru halted all vehicle production at and shipment from Gunma Plant on the evening of the same day and has since been suspending new vehicle registration for the relevant Japanese-domestic models in Japan.
The investigation to date has confirmed that the vehicles to which the component in question may have been incorporated (the “Potentially Affected Vehicles”) (Please see below for the Potentially Affected Vehicles) have not been delivered to any customers or retailers in the U.S. The investigation has also confirmed that the Potentially Affected Vehicles have not reached any customers in any countries outside Japan.
Subaru will not deliver the Potentially Affected Vehicles to any customers.

The cause of the possible defect has been identified.
In prospect of obtaining modified components, preparations are now underway at Gunma Plant to restart production targeting next week (as early as from January 28, 2019).

– Component that has been identified to have possible defect:
Electric power steering unit

– Models of the Potentially Affected Vehicles:
Forester, Impreza, and Subaru XV models manufactured at Gunma Plant
(Production of other models is also suspended as they are manufactured using the same production lines.)

– Period in which the Potentially Affected Vehicles were manufactured:
Late December, 2018 – January 16, 2019 *
* Subject to further investigation.
* No vehicle was manufactured during the plant shutdown period for winter holidays (December 29, 2018 – January 6, 2019).

– Risk due to the possible defect:
If the defect were to cause a malfunction, there is a risk that the steering control warning light on the instrument panel would activate, power steering would cease to function, and steering would become sluggish (i.e. greater force will be required to turn the steering wheel). In the event of such malfunction, please contact your nearest Subaru dealer immediately and have the vehicle checked.

– Cause of the defect:
The investigation is ongoing to determine the details of the cause and mechanism of the possible defect.

– Impact on Subaru’s consolidated financial performance
Impact on Subaru’s consolidated financial performance is not yet certain. Subaru will make further announcement if deemed necessary.

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December 25, 2018

SUBARU started flight test of the prototype of New Utility Helicopter for JMOD

Tokyo, December 25, 2018 – Subaru Corporation today started the flight test of the prototype of the New Utility Helicopter for Japan Ministry of Defense (JMOD) at its Aerospace Company Utsunomiya Plant, Tochigi Prefecture, Japan.

This prototype took to the sky at 2：50p.m. by SUBARU’s flight crew from the Utsunomiya Airfield and landed safely after successful 55 minutes flight.

SUBARU has been developing the New Utility Helicopter for JMOD leveraging the SUBARU BELL 412EPX as the platform that has been jointly developed with BELL HELICOPTER, a Textron Inc., USA.

This prototype aircraft will be delivered to JMOD by the end of fiscal 2018 after completion of a series of flight tests by SUBARU. SUBARU will establish a new production line for the New Utility Helicopter for JMOD and the SUBARU BELL 412EPX in its Utsunomiya Plant to expand defense business as well as commercial helicopter sales both for Japan and international markets.

Prototype during the flight test
SUBARU BELL 412EPX
（Base aircraft for New Utility Helicopter for JMOD）

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December 11, 2018

Notice of Resignation and Change of Representative Director

Company name: SUBARU CORPORATION
Representative: Tomomi Nakamura, President and CEO
Code number: 7270 (First Section of Tokyo Stock Exchange)
Contact for inquiries: Katsuo Saito, Vice President
and General Manager of Administration Department
Phone: +81-3-6447-8825

Subaru Corporation hereby announces that the Company resolved the resignation and change of Representative Director as detailed below.

1. Resignation of Representative Director (Director in charge of manufacturing) (Effective December 31, 2018)
(1) Details of change

Name
New position
Current position

Masaki Okawara
Executive Vice President
Representative Director of the Board
and Executive Vice President

Note1:
Masaki Okawara will retire as Executive Vice President effective March 31, 2019.

Note2:
As a result of this change, the number of Representative Directors of the Company will be one person; Tomomi Nakamura, Representative Director of the Board and President.

Note3:
After the resignation of one current Director, the Company still satisfies the number of Directors as stipulated by laws and regulations and the Articles of Incorporation.

(2) Reason for change
　Voluntary resignation

(3) Effective date
　December 31, 2018

2. Newly appointed representative director (Effective June 2019)
(1) Details of change

Name
New position
Current position

Kazuo Hosoya
Representative Director of the Board
and Deputy President
President, Tokyo Subaru Inc.

Note1:
Appointed as Deputy President effective January 1, 2019.

Note2:
Nominated as a candidate for the Representative Director position. The election is subject to the approval of the 88th Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (the “AGM”) to be held in June 2019 and a resolution at the Board of Directors meeting to be held after the close of the AGM.
Other candidates for new Directors have not been decided at this time.

(2) Reason for change

The Company nominates a new Representative Director candidate, following the resignation of the current Representative Director.
The Company will further strengthen its efforts to prevent recurrence of the issues identified in relation to final inspection procedures at its Gunma Manufacturing Division, by reshuffling the management team of its manufacturing organization.

(3) Effective date
　June 2019

(4) Brief biography of newly-nominated Representative Director

Name
(Date of birth)
Brief Career History
Number
of shares
owned

Kazuo Hosoya
(July 29, 1957)
April 1982
Joined Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
(now, Subaru Corporation)
10,421

May, 2006
General Manager, Corporate Planning Department

January, 2009
Senior General Manager, Subaru Japan Sales &
Marketing Division

June, 2010
President, Tokyo Subaru Inc.

April, 2012
Corporate Vice President
General Manager, Human Resources Department

April, 2014
Corporate Senior Vice President
General Manager, Human Resources Department
General Manager, Career Support Office
President, Subaru Bloom Co.Ltd

April, 2015
Corporate Senior Vice President
Chief General Manager,
Subaru Japan Sales & Marketing Division

April, 2016
Corporate Executive Vice President
Chief General Manager,
Subaru Japan Sales & Marketing Division

April, 2018
President, Tokyo Subaru Inc. (current position)

(Note)
The Company today issued a news release “Subaru Corporation Announces Management Changes (Effective January 1, 2019)”.
URL: https://www.subaru.co.jp/press/news-en/2018_12_11_6633/

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