2007 Frankfurt Motor Show - Subaru Press Conference

September 11, 2007
Mat Nagato Director, Executive Vice President
Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I am Mat Nagato of Fuji Heavy Industries. I am pleased to have this opportunity to speak to you.

First, I like to report our sales in Europe have been growing steadily through 2004, 05, 06 and this year as well. According to our 4 years mid-term management plan, our targeted European sales in 2009 will be 100 thousand units.

To enhance the European sales, today we have two vehicles;

Long-awaited New Impreza and New Tribeca.

First, New Impreza. This was developed on a brand new concept. This five-door Impreza provides Subaru’s legendary driving performance, with a totally new chassis, refined styling and interior comfort.

We introduced the new Impreza in Japan last June, and its sales are very impressive. We sold 4 thousand units during the first week and 6 thousand during the first three weeks.

Today we have Mr. Takeuchi, Project General Manager, who is in charge of the development of new Impreza. He loves to answer any questions later.

Second, New Tribeca.

This was totally changed to be a more refined premium SUV. Revised styling. Enhanced 3.6-litre engine. Improved fuel efficiency. Lower exhaust emissions. That’s the new Tribeca.

These new cars are based on Subaru’s core technologies, of course, including Symmetrical All Wheel Drive.

We first introduced Symmetrical AWD in 1972, and very happily this year happens to be the 35th anniversary.

The place to show Symmetrical AWD and test it, is the World Rally Championship.

It is my pleasure to show you our WRC concept here and on WRC you will hear later from well known WRC driver, Mr. Petter Solberg.

The key word for the new era is definitely “Environment”. To cope with this subject, we have two products in Europe.

One is new Justy. It offers much bigger room and superb fuel economy.

The other one is first-in-history Boxer Turbo Diesel.

The horizontally opposed layout offers a sporty and compact engine. It has a low center of gravity and low vibration. Even though this is before the official introduction, let me give you some details of this boxer diesel engine.

Displacement 2.0-litre. CO2 emissions level 150 g/km. Maximum output 110 kW. Maximum torque 350 Nm.

We’ll start to put it on the market from the beginning of next year.

We have one more car which shows our commitment to protect the environment.

Tokyo Electric Power Company, Japan’s largest power provider, and FHI are jointly developing electric vehicles. We have already 40 of these vehicles running in Tokyo. We are now developing commercially viable electric vehicles for general public.

Since we first introduced Symmetrical AWD in 1972 - for the past 35 years - we’ve always been pursuing the perfection of unique and ideal concepts for safer and more pleasant driving experience. Today also, we are fully committed to provide customers with excitement and dreams.

Thank you very much for your attention.