Toyota, Subaru speeding toward a merger?
E-mailAutoBlog asks the question, "Could Toyota buy Subaru?" The intriguing suggestion was prompted by a pending change in Japanese antitrust law that would make the merger more feasible. Under current law, no company can control more than 50% of a market — a combined Toyota and Subaru would come close. However, in April the law would instead apply to international market share and not domestic freeing Toyota to acquire any smaller rival. Of the smaller Japanese automakers, Subaru makes the most sense because it would add a fourth nameplate to Toyota's stable that would not overlap with Toyota's existing offerings thanks to Subaru's emphasis on all-wheel-drive vehicles. Plus, a merger would help Toyota inch closer to becoming the world's largest automaker. —Matthew Wurtzel
