TOKYO (Nikkei)--Subaru maker Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
(7270.TO) is having such success with its sport utility vehicles in
the U.S. that it will very likely reach its midterm business goal
two years ahead of schedule, posting record U.S. sales in fiscal
2013, President and CEO Yasuyuki Yoshinaga said Wednesday, the
Nikkei reported.
"We are within striking distance of sales of around 400,000
vehicles there," Yoshinaga said in an interview with The
Nikkei.
The goal under the current midterm plan was to sell at least
380,000 vehicles in the U.S. in fiscal 2015. But the target will
probably be reached this fiscal year. That's due in part to growing
sales this spring of Subaru SUVs like the Forester and the XV in
the southern and western U.S.--regions where Subaru's market share
had traditionally been low.
Accordingly, Yoshinaga said the company is drawing up a new
midterm plan from around this fall. Details still need ironing out,
but the Subaru chief said "there will be a focus on profitability"
in addition to greater sales volume.
Yoshinaga also voiced optimism for business in China, where the
anti-Japan sentiment surrounding the territorial disputes had
dampened sales. Noting the plan to set up a joint venture with a
leading local sales company this year, he said there is a good
possibility of attaining the midterm goal of selling 100,000
vehicles there in fiscal 2015--double the sales of fiscal 2012.
Although Fuji Heavy's plans to build a local factory have been
put off due to a failure to gain Chinese government approval,
Yoshinaga said the company has not changed its goal of making cars
in China.