TOKYO

Subaru Corp. aims to share the basic communications infrastructure with Toyota Motor Corp. to accelerate the development of connected cars, Subaru President Tomomi Nakamura said in a recent interview.

"It's better to share the platform," said the head of Subaru, which is set to become a de facto Toyota group firm.

Nakamura pointed out that the two automakers are wasting time and money by separately developing similar technologies for connected cars.

"We'll capitalize on the tie-up with Toyota to streamline operations," he said, adding that securing manpower for research and development of information technologies is becoming increasingly difficult.

In September, Subaru agreed to increase Toyota's voting rights to at least 20 pct and become an affiliate of Japan's leading automaker. Subaru will acquire a stake in Toyota, as well.

The two companies said the enhanced capital alliance would deepen their long-term partnership. Specifically, the move is aimed at boosting the development of next-generation technologies for CASE (connected, autonomous, shared and electric) cars.

In the interview, Nakamura denied that Subaru will entirely rely on Toyota's CASE technologies.

"Only technologies that are out of sight of customers will be shared," he said, stressing that Subaru will continue developing software for connected car services, such as maps.

Jiji Press