9-2X Launched

Production of the Saab 9-2X is under way at Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.'s Gunma Yajima Plant in Japan.

The Subaru maker jointly developed the 9-2X with Saab Automobile for the North American market. The tie-up is part of an overarching alliance strategy for General Motors Corp., which fully owns Saab and holds a 20% share in Fuji.

The 9-2X, which bowed last December at the Los Angeles auto show, is based on Subaru's WRX platform and borrows key technologies, including the auto maker's trademark symmetrical all-wheel drive and boxer engine, but features Saab's styling.

Subaru of America Inc. long has said that the exclusivity of its boxer engine and AWD system serve as the heart of its brand and are key differentiators between Subaru and the ever-mounting competition in North America.

And while the deal sees Subaru sharing its technology, there are no concrete plans for it to get a vehicle in return.

“But in the long run, certainly the alliance with General Motors will be a benefit to Subaru of America as well as our dealers and our distributors,” says Fred Adcock, executive vice president-Subaru of America.

Subaru and GM have other collaborations under way in engineering, purchasing and product development.

The Japan-based auto maker recently outlined in its 5-year business plan, FDR-1 (Fuji Dynamic Revolution), an objective of increasing sourcing through GM in order to cut costs.