Fuji Heavy To Start Selling Diesels In Japan In 2011

30 May 2009

Nikkei. Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd., the maker of Subarus, is planning to introduce diesel light-duty vehicles in the Japan market as early as 2011.

The automaker will introduce passenger cars powered by a diesel version of its unique boxer engine, aiming to develop diesel models of its existing car lines. Tougher environmental regulations for nitrogen oxides and particulate matter in vehicle exhaust are set to be implemented in Japan from 2010. Fuji Heavy hopes to improve the diesel engines already in use in Europe to meet the new domestic regulations.

In the eco-car segment, the company will begin leasing the plug-in Stella electric car to corporate users in July. With the help of Toyota Motor Corp., it plans to release hybrid vehicles early in the next decade.

FHI has been introduced diesel versions of the Legacy, Forester and Impreza in Europe since 2008; cumulative sales reached 30,000 units at the end of April. The diesel Legacy accounts for 54.1% of the model’s sales in Europe.