Quarterlytics / Consumer Cyclical / Auto - Manufacturers / Subaru Corporation

Subaru Corporation

fujhy · OTC Consumer Cyclical
Claim this profile
Ticker fujhy
Exchange OTC
Sector Consumer Cyclical
Industry Auto - Manufacturers
Employees 10,000+
← All annual reports
FY2018 Annual Report · Subaru Corporation
Sign in to download
Loading PDF…
Annual Report
2018

For the year ended March 31, 2018

SUBARU Business Style

Vision for 2025

From a company making things, 
to a company making people smile.

SUBARU, by no means a large automaker, is implementing a business model centered on 
selection and concentration of limited management resources, creating added value, and 
pursuing uncompromised differentiation. We have made “Enhance corporate quality” 
the cornerstone of the mid-term management vision announced in July 2018.
  By swiftly transforming what needs to be changed, including aspects of corporate culture, 
we will work to bring smiles to the faces of ever greater numbers of customers.

Strengthening of the 
management foundation

Focus business strategy to 
enhance strengths

We will strengthen the management foundation 
by pursuing qualitative improvement in every 
aspect  of  the  company,  including  products, 
services, culture, human resources, organizations, 
fi nance, and operations.

Rather than pursue an omnidirectional business 
strategy, we have chosen to optimally focus our 
limited management resources on categories and 
markets in which we can leverage our strengths. 
In business development, our product focus is 
mainly  on  SUVs  and  sports  models,  and  our 
market focus is on the U.S. and other developed 
countries in mature stages of motorization.

01

Annual Report 2018

Achieve an industry-leading 
profi t margin

While continuously making strategic investments 
for  future  sustained  growth,  we  will  pursue  a 
management approach that emphasizes a high 
operating  margin,  focusing  on  differentiation 
and value-added strategies. On that basis, we 
will aim for steady volume growth.

CONTENTS

01  SUBARU Business Style

03  Message from the CEO

09  Message from the Chairman

11  Message from the CFO

15 

17 

 Messages from the 
CQO, CTO, and CIO

 Financial and 
Non-Financial Highlights

19  Business Overview

27  History

29 

 Directors, Auditors, and 
Executive Officers

31  Corporate Governance

39  CSR in the SUBARU Group

47 

 Consolidated Ten-Year 
Financial Summary

49  Five-Year Unit Sales

51  Financial Review

57  Corporate Information

Disclaimer Regarding 
Forward-Looking Statements

Statements  herein  concerning  plans  and  strategies, 
expectations or projections about the future, SUBARUʼs 
efforts with regard to various management issues, and 
other statements, except for historical facts, are forward-
looking statements. These forward-looking statements are 
subject to uncertainties that could cause actual results to 
differ  materially  from  those  anticipated.  These 
uncertainties  include,  but  are  not  limited  to,  general 
economic conditions, demand for and prices of SUBARUʼs 
products, SUBARUʼs ability to continue to develop and 
market  advanced  products,  raw  material  prices,  and 
currency exchange rates. SUBARU disclaims any obligation 
to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a 
result of new information, future events, or otherwise.

Annual Report 2018

02

Message from the CEO

Representative Director of the Board, 
President and CEO

Tomomi Nakamura

Steadily build up intrinsic strengths and 
take strong steps in preparation for 
a future jump to overcome social changes.

03

Annual Report 2018

Aspirations upon Becoming President
Allow me to begin by introducing myself. I am Tomomi Nakamura. I assumed office as Representative 
Director, President and CEO of SUBARU CORPORATION in June 2018.
  Having assumed management of the Company during a period of transformation in todayʼs mobility 
society,  I  feel  a  great  weight  of  responsibility.  In  keeping  with  SUBARUʼs  unchanging  management 
philosophy of “Aiming to be a compelling company with a strong market presence built upon its customer-
first principle,” I intend to assess this sweeping change in the business environment and respond with a 
sense of urgency and alacrity. Issues accompanying SUBARUʼs rapid growth have come to light since the 
end of 2017, but I consider it my mission as president to cultivate SUBARUʼs true capabilities, and I will make 
every effort to achieve sustained growth. I consider SUBARUʼs current diffi culties an opportunity to bring 
genuine  change  to  the  Company  and  accomplish  transformation  in  a  number  of  areas.  I  will  carefully 
ascertain what needs to be changed and what should not be changed and implement reforms together with 
the new management team.

For four years beginning in 2014, I served as chairman and CEO of U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary 
Subaru  of  America,  Inc.,  where  I  spearheaded  management  and  experienced  firsthand  the  growth 
momentum of the U.S. market. At the same time, I constantly watched SUBARU from the outside with a 
sense  of  impending  crisis,  wondering  what  might  occur  to  stop  ongoing  growth  and  what  would  be 
necessary  to  sustain  it.  One  solution  that  occurred  to  me  was  pushing  quality  in  products,  services, 
operations, and every other aspect of the business, and another was fundamental reform of car-making. In 
formulating the mid-term management vision, we made these two solutions key priorities.

Response to Improprieties Relating to Final Vehicle Inspections
Inappropriate practices, such as the performance of fi nal vehicle inspections by persons not certifi ed as fi nal 
inspectors, and inappropriate conduct in fuel economy and emissions sampling in the fi nal vehicle inspection 
process and other fi nal vehicle inspection work at the SUBARU Gunma Manufacturing Division have been 
identifi ed. I sincerely apologize for the signifi cant trouble and inconvenience we have caused our customers, 
partners, and all other stakeholders.
  An investigative report by a team of external experts cited not only organizational issues relating to the 
corporate climate and poor employee awareness of applicable standards but also the inadequacy of SUBARU 
managementʼs stance on quality assurance, as causes of the long-term, various, and wide-ranging repeated 
incidents of nonconforming and inappropriate conduct, and we take a very serious view of managementʼs 
responsibility. It is the responsibility of senior management to prevent any reoccurrence of such issues and 
produce results, and we will spearhead efforts to restore trust in SUBARU step by step.

A Review of Prominence 2020
Through initiatives set out in Prominence 2020, the mid-term management vision announced in 2014, 
SUBARU has implemented a business strategy aimed at establishing a prominent presence in the minds of 
customers. Growth in sales volume in the North American market became a major pillar of business growth. 
We pursued a course of practicing selection and concentration to focus allocation of limited management 
resources and leverage strengths. Our product focus was mainly on SUV and sports models, and our market 
focus was on the U.S. and other developed countries in mature stages of motorization. At the same time, in 
the U.S. market, a combination of products, sales network restructuring, and marketing measures featuring 
the word “Love” became a powerful driving force that resulted in sales of 671,000 units in the fiscal year 
ended (FYE) March 2018, with sales reaching a record high for the ninth consecutive year.
  Although we may take a measure of satisfaction in our recent business growth, the fact is that issues 
remain. In Prominence 2020, we articulated our vision for 2020, consisting of four goals: No. 1 for customer 
trust; strong brand; industry-leading high profitability; and vehicle sales of 1.2 million-plus units. With 
regard to the goals No.1 for customer trust and strong brand, we recognize that we have lost the trust of 
customers and society due to recent quality-related problems and issues stemming from the corporate 
culture. Although at present we have achieved our goal of an industry-leading profi t margin, profi tability is 
trending down due to changes in the sales environment and deteriorating cost structures. On the whole, 
we  are  still  halfway  to  achieving  the  management  vision.  From  a  quantity  and  quality  perspective, 
qualitative growth has not kept pace with quantitative growth, and we realize that restoration of trust and 
improvement of SUBARUʼs fundamental capabilities are indispensable for achieving sustained growth.

Annual Report 2018

04

 
Message from the CEO

STEP: the New Mid-term Management Vision
In  July  2018,  SUBARU  announced  STEP,  which  is  our  new  mid-term  management  vision  to  make 
SUBARU  a  company  that  is  trusted  by,  and  resonates  with,  customers  through  providing  “Enjoyment 
and Peace of Mind.”

Speed

Trust

Engagement

Peace of mind 
& enjoyment

Speedily advance 
initiatives

Restore trust

Engage and 
resonate with 
customers

Provide “Peace of 
Mind and Enjoyment” 
to customers

Vision for 2025
Our vision for 2025 is “From a company making things, to a company making people smile.” We want more 
and more customers to love SUBARU. To make this happen, we intend to provide products and services that 
will make customers smile by constantly thinking about customer value. Accordingly, we have established 
three specifi c visions for 2025.

1. Become a brand that is “different” from others by enhancing distinctiveness.
We often hear from customers and SUBARU dealers comments such as “I like that SUBARU is different from 
other automakers” and “SUBARU enables my life.” We take pride in our reputation for being different and 
want to establish a unique presence in the minds of customers.

2. Engage in business activities that resonate with customers by putting them center-stage.
At SUBARU, we always put customers center-stage and sincerely engage with each individual customer. 
SUBARU  cars  reflect  not  only  an  automakerʼs  passion  for  cars,  but  also  our  commitment  to  remain  a 
company that engages with customers, makes cars that people want to buy, and engages in business 
activities that resonate with people.

3. Fulfi ll corporate social responsibilities by contributing to diversifying social needs.
Having refl ected on the fact that, at a time of rapid corporate growth, we have been insuffi ciently mindful of 
the social responsibilities of a company of SUBARUʼs size, we will squarely face up to and fulfi ll our social 
responsibilities, including in the area of governance.

Corporate Culture Reforms and Three Key Pillars of Initiatives
We have made corporate culture reforms the centerpiece of specifi c initiatives. We will strengthen efforts to 
enhance corporate quality with the aim of becoming a company that can respond swiftly and flexibly to 
change by being more sensitive to the times and the outside world while preserving SUBARUʼs DNA.

First of all, we will strengthen compliance by undertaking a comprehensive compliance check covering 
all  operations  and  internal  regulations  and  correcting  issues  and  by  bolstering  internal  compliance 
education. We will also work to further reinforce groupwide governance systems and their operation. By 
changing our management to administer these governance systems, we will then accelerate reinforcement 
of the corporate structure.
  Next, we will create a culture that enables employees to work with greater energy. To accomplish this, 
individual employees must raise their own awareness and cultivate the ability to think and act autonomously, 
and I want top management to take the lead in developing policies and systems to support this effort. These 
corporate culture reforms cannot be accomplished overnight, and we will take our time and continuously 

05

Annual Report 2018

 
implement reform efforts. On the basis of this new culture, we will aim to realize our corporate vision. Three 
key pillars of initiatives are described below.

Initiatives overview (9 Boxes + 1)

0

“Change the Culture” 
Corporate culture reforms

Accelerate efforts to become “a company that does the right thing in the right way.”
Continuous efforts aimed at corporate culture reforms.

“Monozukuri” (Car-making)

Sales and service

New mobility domain

1 Enhance corporate quality

Quality reforms

Build a strong brand

More enjoyment, 
more peace of mind

Enhance quality at customer 
contact points

From “A car you can love” to 
“A car, a brand, and people 
you can love”

Alliance enhancement

Generate new value through 
connected car technologies

Sustainable growth based 
on a focus strategy

Launch “Make-a-Subaru” 
project

– Target 5% share in the U.S. – 
Steady growth in each region

Initiatives to create new 
technologies and businesses

2

3

1. Enhance corporate quality
We have made quality the centerpiece of this mid-term management vision. In addition to the recent fi nal 
vehicle inspection and airbag problems, other market quality issues have arisen, and we are keenly aware 
that fundamentally improving quality, which is the foundation of customer trust, is an urgent priority. We 
consider quality something customers expect of SUBARU, and believe that it is essential to transform 
SUBARU into a company that makes quality the highest priority, from senior management right down to the 
workplace level, and we will work to achieve this transformation.

2. Build a strong brand
SUBARU defines  “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” as the core value we deliver to customers through all 
processes from product development to sales and service. Reliable automobile manufacturing based on 
functionality, safety, and reliability is indelibly encoded in SUBARUʼs DNA, and we will redouble our efforts in 
pursuit of automobile safety performance. We are committed to the uncompromising pursuit of protecting 
peopleʼs lives and aim to eliminate fatal traffi c accidents* by 2030. We will not settle for ordinary automation, 
but rather think in terms of ensuring safety of mobility by assisting with tasks people find difficult while 
respecting tasks at which people excel. At first, we will place the highest priority on enhancing Level 2 
driving assist technologies. At the same time, we will accelerate efforts to enable drivers and passengers to 
feel peace of mind by adding connected car technologies and intelligent technologies.

SUBARU places importance on connections between people, and SUBARU, dealers, customers, and 
communities will join together in activities unique to SUBARU at every touch point to make SUBARU a brand 
that is trusted and loved by customers. 

SUBARU, like other automakers, tends to be car-centric in its thinking. Going forward, we will create new 
added value by collaborating with external partners from different industries, utilizing connectivity services, 
and deepening communication with individual customers. We want to develop SUBARU into an inimitable 
brand that is slightly different from other brands.

*  Elimination of accidents resulting in the death of drivers or passengers in SUBARU vehicles and accidents resulting in the death of 

pedestrians, cyclists, or other persons due to collision with SUBARU vehicles

3. Sustainable growth based on a focus strategy
To SUBARU, a small automaker with global sales share of 1%, an important management challenge is to 
overcome the current period of transformation in the automotive industry and somehow maintain our 
earning power. We realize that the most important thing for accomplishing this is for customers to recognize 
value unique to SUBARU. We will reinforce efforts to enhance the customer value SUBARU delivers through 
high quality, high added value, and low cost, not only in manufacturing, but in all aspects of the products 
and service we provide. These days, enormous costs and investments are necessary for environmental 
initiatives and regulatory response as well as for meeting customer needs for advanced safety technologies 
and connected car technologies. However, at present it is no simple matter to convince customers to pay 
prices that fully cover these outlays. We will review our conventional ways of doing things and, making 
quality the cornerstone, steadily enhance value by coherently tying together all of our technology, product, 

Annual Report 2018

06

 
 
Message from the CEO

and cost strategies from a medium- to long-term perspective and ensuring mutual collaboration among 
the divisions.
  With regard to market strategy, we will aim for steady overall growth, centered on a higher level of 
growth in the U.S., and plan to achieve sales of more than 1.3 million units worldwide in 2025. In the U.S. 
market, we will aim for market share of 5%. If, for instance, total demand in the U.S. is 17 million units, this 
means we will aim for U.S. sales of 850,000 units. Although Japan remains an extremely diffi cult market, we 
want to reliably maintain the current level of sales of 10,000 passenger cars per month in our home market. 
In  Asia,  we  will  begin  knockdown  production  (local  assembly)  of  an  all-new  Forester  at  a  complete 
knockdown (CKD) plant in Thailand in 2019 and aim to take advantage of this capacity to further increase 
sales. Although trends in Russia are highly uncertain, we consider it a market with high affi nity for SUBARU 
products and want to grow our sales there. In Europe and China, we aim to maintain our current business 
scale and will review our strategies while closely observing changes in markets and government policies. As 
we execute our sales strategies, a major issue is how to deal with local environmental regulations. There is 
currently a gap between markets and environmental regulatory trends, and the future direction is uncertain. 
We intend to take appropriate measures while ascertaining the balance between the market formation 
process and the progress of environmental regulations.

Sales plans (FYE 2019 vs FYE 2026) (10 thousand units) 

Production capacity (FYE 2021)

(10 thousand units)

Japan

North 
America

Other

Total

FYE 2019 
(plan)

FYE 2026 
(plan)

15

15

77

92

18

23

110

130

Change

±0%

+20%

+27%

+18%

Japan

Overseas

Gunma

SIA

69.6

43.6

77.9

49.7

Standard 
operations

At full 
capacity

Asia 
CKD

1.4

Global 
Total

115

129

Sales Strategy for the U.S.
We expect total automobile demand in the U.S. market to remain at about 17 million vehicles and aim to 
achieve a higher level of growth by increasing competitiveness, with a strategic focus on our products, 
marketing, and sales network. We believe that there is room for sales growth in the Sun Belt (the southern U.S.) 
in particular. With regard to products, we introduced the Ascent, a 3-row SUV for North America, this summer 
and plan to introduce an all-new Forester in the second half of the fi scal year. We will continue to engage in 
product development with the U.S. market in mind and enhance the product appeal of existing models to the 
maximum extent possible. In sales network development, we plan to appoint dealers to fi ll open points (areas 
with no dealers), mainly in the Sun Belt, and increase the number of dealers from the current 631 to about 
650. In the Sun Belt, we have fi nally achieved market share of 2% (up 0.2 points year on year) and reached the 
point where we can expect income from service in addition to new vehicle sales. To ensure customer 
satisfaction, we intend to work together with dealers to increase the number of service facilities and parking 
lots, enhance facilities such as customer lounges, and upskill dealer sales and service representatives.

Product Strategy
Our product strategy is in principle to release a fully redesigned version of a key model every year. In 
addition, we aim to enhance the lineup of distinctive SUV and sports models and model variations. We will 
also evolve SUBARUʼs “Dynamic x Solid” design identity toward a bolder direction.
  With the automotive industry having entered a period of transformation, responding to technological 
innovations in the areas of electrifi cation, automated driving, connected car technology, and car sharing is a 
matter of urgent importance. However, since the outlook for the future is uncertain and our management 
resources are limited, we cannot adopt an omnidirectional business strategy. We realize that it is essential to 
chart a course forward while carefully ascertaining market trends. We will meet high customer expectations 
with vehicles that only SUBARU can offer, such as electrified vehicles that go beyond conventional with 
features like go-anywhere packages in addition to driving stability and safety performance.

07

Annual Report 2018

Product Strategy

New model

Existing model

Sports

Platform

Environmental 
initiatives

2018

2021

2025

Global strategic SUV

Continuous launch of new models

Expansion of SUV variations

Enhance sports models incl. STI models

Enhance Subaru Global Platform

Plug-in Hybrid

Redesigned horizontally-opposed DST*

Global launch of EV

New HEV

*DST: Downsized turbo engine

Strategy for the Aerospace Business
In FYE March 2018, SUBARU completed withdrawal from the industrial products business and established a 
corporate structure focused on two businesses: automotive and aerospace. In the aerospace business, as in 
the automotive business, we are at the stage of enhancing the SUBARU brand. However, aerospace is a 
business with a very long timescale, and the outlook until 2025 has to some extent taken shape. We do not 
anticipate dramatic change or evolution and will continue efforts to shift from independence to stable 
growth. We will also press ahead with verification of technologies as a part of the development of next-
generation products and implement a partnering strategy focusing on broad-based collaboration with other 
companies. In addition, the automotive and aerospace businesses will utilize each otherʼs strengths and 
work to compensate for their weaknesses and generate new synergies.

CSR Initiatives
We have organized CSR activities identifi ed in light of our business domains into the following six priority 
areas from the perspective of what society requires from SUBARU : 1) People-oriented Car Culture, 2) 
Resonance and Coexistence, 3) Peace of Mind, 4) Diversity, 5) Environment, and 6) Compliance.
  Our environmental policy is to make environmental contributions throughout the entire value chain and 
across the entire business in addition to improving the environmental performance of our products by 
means such as boosting fuel economy and reducing CO2 emissions. 

Since  SUBARU  is  an  automaker,  of  course  our  products  have  outsized  influence  on  environmental 
impacts across the full range of business activities in the areas of purchasing, production, logistics, sales, 
products, and management. We will work to reduce total waste in society through product attributes such as 
reliability, longevity, safety, and utility. Specifi cally, in addition to proceeding as planned with introductions of 
plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHEV) and electric vehicle (EV), we will improve the fuel economy of our models 
through measures such as further expansion of the electric vehicle lineup and introduction of a downsized 
turbo engine and weight-reduction technologies.

To comply with local regulations in each market, we will utilize available development resources to 
maximum effect, including collaboration through alliances, to develop an optimal product lineup for each 
market that is adapted to market needs and customer preference.

*Please refer to the SUBARU corporate website for details on the STEP mid-term management vision.

WEB

STEP: the Mid-term Management Vision
https://www.subaru.co.jp/en/ir/management/plan/

Annual Report 2018

08

 
 
Message from the Chairman

Director of the Board, Chairman

Yasuyuki Yoshinaga

We will resolutely implement a corporate culture 
transformation to ensure the rebirth of SUBARU as 
“a company that does the right thing in the right way.”

Summary of My Tenure as President
I retired as President and CEO at the General Meeting of Shareholders held in June 2018.  

Ever since becoming president in June 2011, I have thought that SUBARU, which has only a 1% global 
share in the automotive industry, will be unable to survive in this harsh competitive environment if it doesnʼt 
compete as only a small company can. As president, I believed that the only path to growing in a sustained 
manner  is  to  create  added  value  that  customers  will  find  appealing  and  pursue  uncompromising 
differentiation. Rather than offering a full model lineup and doing business in all markets, we specialized and 
focused  our  limited  management  resources  on  categories  and  markets  in  which  we  can  leverage  our 
strengths. We worked to build a strong business structure by focusing on SUVs and sports models and doing 
business mainly in the U.S. and other developed countries in mature stages of motorization. As a result, 
many customers in North America and other markets purchased our products, global unit sales grew, 
fi nancial performance improved substantially, and we were able to increase corporate value.  
  On the other hand, I feel that SUBARUʼs corporate strengths failed to keep up with the Companyʼs 
dramatic growth, as indicated by the recent inappropriate incidents and an increase in quality issues.

09

Annual Report 2018

 
Objectives of Changes in the Management Structure
Four objectives prompted the complete change of management structure, including the change of CEO: 
1) Rejuvenation of the management team and boosting of organizational vitality, and strengthening of a 
can-do attitude; 2) Qualitative improvement of the management structure; 3) Enhancement of market 
responsiveness; and 4) Enhancement of technologies and technology management.

President Nakamura has served in a succession of important posts involving groupwide management 
strategy, most recently serving as chairmen and CEO of the U.S. sales and marketing subsidiary Subaru of 
America for four years. He has thorough knowledge of the U.S. market, SUBARUʼs most important market, 
has gained the full trust of U.S. dealers, and has a stellar reputation. Since President Nakamura and I are of 
one mind with regard to SUBARUʼs management strategy and business model to date, I will entrust practical 
management of the Company to him and devote myself to corporate culture reforms and compliance.

I made sure that my successor was elected through a deliberately open and fair process. At a session of 
the Executive Nomination Meeting held in February 2018, the participants, including the outside directors, 
discussed the matter and agreed to elect Tomomi Nakamura as SUBARUʼs next president. The decision was 
announced in March 2018.

To be “a Company that does the Right Thing in the Right Way”
I sincerely apologize for the signifi cant trouble and inconvenience we have caused our customers and other 
stakeholders  due  to  the  repeated  improprieties  in  final  vehicle  inspections  at  the  SUBARU  Gunma 
Manufacturing Division.

In April 2018, SUBARU established the “Tadashii-Kaisha” Promotion Department and Compliance Offi ce 
as organizations to reform the corporate culture, one cause of the repeated improprieties. The “Tadashii-
Kaisha” Promotion Department will plan and thoroughly implement companywide activities to earn the trust 
of customers and society and make SUBARU “a company that does the right thing in the right way,” execute 
measures to prevent any reoccurrence of the improprieties, and work toward solving fundamental problems. 
The  Compliance  Office  will  plan  and  implement  activities  that  will  lead  to  further  strengthening  of 
companywide compliance efforts and transformation of the compliance awareness of all employees.

Toward Sustained Corporate Value Enhancement
I think that sustained corporate value enhancement at SUBARU depends on increasing added value. This is 
a question of how to increase the appeal of the SUBARU brand over time. SUBARUʼs brand power has 
increased substantially in recent years. However, additional effort is required to enhance corporate strengths 
and further develop SUBARU into a trusted brand. Under the new management structure, everyone at 
SUBARU will engage in steady, diligent activities to put the Company on a solid footing. I ask your continued 
support for SUBARU in the coming years.

Reference information on improprieties relating to fi nal vehicle inspections 
and fuel economy and emissions measurements

Investigative reports about the repeated improprieties that SUBARU has published to date are as follows. 
For details, please see the individual news releases and reports.

1)   December 19, 2017

 Investigation Report and Countermeasures to Prevent Recurrence of Nonconforming Final Vehicle Inspection 
Works at Gunma Manufacturing Division

  https://www.subaru.co.jp/press/news-en/2017_12_19_5237/

2)  April 27, 2018

 Investigation Report on Measurement of Fuel Economy and Emissions During Final Vehicle Inspections at Gunma 
Manufacturing Division

  https://www.subaru.co.jp/press/news-en/2018_04_27_5714/ 

3)  September 28, 2018

 Results of Investigation into Improper Conduct during Final Vehicle Inspections at Gunma Manufacturing Division

  https://www.subaru.co.jp/press/news-en/2018_09_28_6349/

Annual Report 2018

10

 
 
 
 
 
 
Message from the CFO

Director of the Board, 
Executive Vice President and CFO

Toshiaki Okada

We will increase strategic investments and 
R&D expenses to boost competitiveness 
for the future, maintain an industry-leading 
profi t margin, and aim for sustained growth.

A Look Back at My First Year as CFO
During the past year since I became Chief Financial Offi cer (CFO), at a time when the entire automotive 
industry has entered a period of transformation, I have always made sure to appropriately disseminate 
corporate information on matters such as SUBARUʼs current position and thinking, as well as our growth 
opportunities and potential. I also consider it my role to serve as a point of contact between external and 
internal stakeholders by appropriately feeding back to SUBARU information and opinions from outside the 
Company and communicating the needs of external stakeholders.   

For SUBARU, which is by no means a large automaker, to achieve sustained growth, it is essential to build 
the business by focusing on a differentiation strategy and value-added strategy based on making original, 
distinctive cars. To prepare for sustained growth, I will consider matters such as how SUBARU uses funds and 
capital and how we allocate management resources.

11

Annual Report 2018

 
Business Performance in FYE March 2018
Consolidated unit sales in FYE March 2018 increased by some 2,000 units year on year and reached a record 
high of 1,067,000 units, with North America, a key market, continuing to drive global sales. Consolidated net 
sales increased by 2.4% to a record high of 3,405.2 billion yen as a result of factors including currency 
fl uctuations and the increase in unit sales. Unit sales in North America reached a record high for the ninth 
consecutive  year,  and  global  unit  sales  and  consolidated  net  sales  reached  record  highs  for  the  sixth 
consecutive year. 
  Consolidated operating income decreased by 7.6% to 379.4 billion yen as a result of the impact of an 
increase in SG&A expenses accompanying rising interest rates in the U.S. and market conditions for raw 
materials coupled with an increase in R&D expenses, despite a positive impact on profits from currency 
fl uctuations. Ordinary income decreased by 3.7% to 379.9 billion yen, and net income attributable to owners 
of parent decreased by 22.0% to 220.4 billion yen as a result of factors including the recording of airbag-
related losses of 81.3 billion yen as an extraordinary loss.

Outlook for FYE March 2019
We forecast continued strong sales in North America and other markets and a 3.1% year-on-year increase in 
consolidated unit sales to 1.104 million units in FYE March 2019. Although we forecast an increase in unit 
sales, we have incorporated into our forecast a negative impact on sales from currency fl uctuations and the 
impact of a change in accounting policy (deduction of sales incentives from net sales totaling approximately 
180.0 billion yen) and have planned for a 0.5% year-on-year increase* in consolidated net sales to 3,250.0 
billion yen. We forecast a 20.9% decrease in operating income to 300.0 billion yen, a 19.7% decrease in 
ordinary income to 305.0 billion yen, and a 0.2% decrease in net income attributable to owners of parent to 
220.0 billion yen, to result from the impact of an increase in SG&A expenses accompanying rising interest 
rates in the U.S. and raw materials prices, despite the projected increase in unit sales.
  Although  we  can  expect  improved  business  performance  in  FYE  March  2019  as  a  result  of  the 
introduction of the Ascent, a 3-row SUV, and an all-new Forester following a full model change, we expect 
the full-scale contribution from these models to occur in the second half and beyond. The fi rst half of the 
year will also be a lean season from a product perspective, with the new-model effect of the Impreza and 
Crosstrek (known as the SUBARU XV outside North America) running its course and other highly profi table 
models entering the second half of their model lives. Accordingly, we forecast a diffi cult fi rst half in terms of 
business performance and have planned for operating income of 110.0 billion yen in the fi rst half and 190.0 
billion yen in the second half, for full-year operating income of 300.0 billion yen.

*Consolidated net sales for FYE March 2018 have been recalculated using the new accounting policy for comparison purposes.

FYE March 2018: Analysis of Increase and 
Decrease in Operating Income Changes 
(Consolidated) 

 (Billions of yen)

FYE March 2019: Analysis of Increase and 
Decrease in Operating Income Changes 
(Consolidated) 

 (Billions of yen)

Gain on
currency
exchange
32.7

410.8

-44.2

-7.7
Cost
reduction

-6.9

379.4

-5.3
Sales
volume &
mixture
and others

SG&A
expenses
and others

R&D
expenses

Sales volume &
mixture and
others
12.0

1.1

379.4

R&D expenses

-58.4
Loss on
currency
exchange

-19.4

300.0

-14.7
Cost
reduction

SG&A expenses
and others

’17/3
Operating
income

-31.4 billion yen

’18/3
Operating
income

’18/3
Operating
income

-79.4 billion yen

’19/3
Operating income
(Planned)

Annual Report 2018

12

Message from the CFO

  Although business conditions continue to recover gradually in North America, a key market for SUBARU, 
overall demand for automobiles has peaked, leading to intensifi cation of sales competition. We consider 
incentive  program  management  extremely  important  for  maintaining  competitiveness  in  such  an 
environment. Although there has been no major change in the fi nancing program we provide to customers, 
we  are  maintaining  a  lower  level  of  incentives  per  vehicle  than  the  industry  average  by  carefully  and 
meticulously managing interest rates, payment periods, and other fi nancing terms and conditions for each 
model while carefully monitoring market conditions and the competitive environment. However, the impact 
of increases in the interest rate on borrowings is signifi cant, and interest rates are currently trending up. We 
plan to take advantage of new model introductions to curb expenses.

STEP: the New Mid-term Management Vision
In July 2018, SUBARU announced STEP, our new mid-term management vision. Although we have achieved 
rapid quantitative growth during the past few years, we recognize that there are many qualitative issues. 

Fundamentally  improving  quality,  which  is  the  foundation  of  customer  trust,  is  an  urgent  priority, 
and we have made quality enhancement initiatives the centerpiece of STEP. We will review all quality-
related processes from product planning to production, set a fi ve-year investment framework of 150.0 
billion yen for improvement of total quality, and to undertake improvements including upgrading the 
quality  level  of  manufacturing  plants,  reinforcing  quality  management  systems,  and  developing 
customer service infrastructure.

Financial and Capital Strategies
The Company engages in business management with return on capital, fi nancial soundness, and shareholder 
returns as the three key indicators of capital policy. Specifically, the Company has declared a policy of 
providing appropriate shareholder returns while maintaining a high degree of balance between return on 
equity (ROE) and the equity ratio over the medium and long term, and there is no change in this basic policy. 
On that basis, in our capital control, I intend to emphasize cash. SUBARUʼs management approach is 
characterized by the practice of selection and concentration, and we concentrate on developed countries, 
mainly the U.S., offering a limited model lineup. We recognize that this approach entails aggressively taking 
on more risk than competitors in terms of being subject to the impact of exchange rates and business 
fl uctuations in the market. For this reason, to prepare against sudden changes in the business environment, 
we have set a minimum level of cash reserves equivalent to two monthsʼ sales and a minimum equity ratio of 
50%  and  will  practice  appropriate  financial  management,  including  shareholder  returns,  taking  into 
consideration the business environment. We have set a target of maintaining ROE of 10% and will aim for 
ROE of 15% or higher.

Capital Expenditures/
Depreciation Expenses

Capital expenditures

Depreciation expenses

(Billions of yen)

200

158.5

135.7

141.4

130.0

110.7

68.5

54.9

64.8

65.0

89.8

93.0

77.0

150

100

50

0

R&D Expenses

(Billions of yen)

121.1 120.0

114.2

102.4

83.5

60.1

150

120

90

60

30

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3 ’19/3
(Planned)

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3 ’18/3 ’19/3
(Planned)

13

Annual Report 2018

 
  With a view to future growth, we will increase strategic investment and R&D investment for the purpose 
of boosting future competitiveness. We will invest in areas including improvement of our management 
foundation centered on quality and responding to transformation of the automotive industry, which is an 
urgent priority. For the three-year period from FYE 2019 to FYE 2021, we plan total capital expenditures of 
450.0 billion yen and R&D expenses of 400.0 billion yen. On that basis, we plan to achieve an industry-
leading profi t margin of 9.5% and will aim for an operating income ratio of 10% or higher.
  Our  basic  policy  is  to  ensure  balanced  distribution  of  profits  to  all  stakeholders  and  to  provide 
continuous, stable shareholder returns, with dividend payments as the primary component of returns. The 
annual dividend payment for FYE March 2018 was 144 yen per share (half-year dividend of 72 yen and year-
end dividend of 72 yen), the same as for FYE March 2017. We plan to maintain a dividend of 144 yen per 
share (half-year dividend of 72 yen and year-end dividend of 72 yen) again in FYE March 2019. For this three-
year period, our policy is to make a dividend payment of 144 yen the basis of shareholder returns and 
fl exibly purchase treasury stock in accordance with cash fl ow.

STEP, the new mid-term management vision, embodies our desire to improve our ability to respond to 
changes in the external environment, correct distortions that have accompanied rapid growth, and cultivate 
fundamental corporate strengths. We realize that a change of employee awareness is a matter of urgent 
importance for SUBARU to become a company that is trusted by, and resonates with, customers. In speedily 
implementing various initiatives, in my role as CFO I will observe laws and regulations and dedicate myself 
to creating systems that enable SUBARU to ensure quality. This is a crucial time for SUBARU to solidify its 
footing  in  preparation  for  the  next  leap  forward.  We  will  achieve  sustained  growth  and  meet  the 
expectations of our shareholders and other stakeholders by accelerating initiatives to create “a company that 
does the right thing in the right way” and cultivating fundamental corporate strengths as quickly as possible. 
I request your further understanding and support in the coming years.

Profi t Plan for FYE 2019–2021 (3 years)

Capital Policy

(105 yen/USD)

Net sales

10 trillion yen

Operating income

950 billion yen

Operating margin

9.5%

Net cash

Equity ratio

Two monthsʼ worth 
of net sales at 
minimum

50% at minimum

R&D expenses

400 billion yen (+18%)

ROE

Capital expenditures

450 billion yen (+3%)

Depreciation and 
amortization

300 billion yen (+29%)

Shareholder 
returns

Minimum

Target

Yearly dividend 
per share

10%

15%

144 yen

Share repurchases

To conduct fl exibly

(   ): Percent change from previous 3-year period (FYE 2016–2018)

Free Cash Flow/ 
Ratio of Shareholders’ Equity to Total Assets

Dividend per Share/
Dividend Payout Ratio

Free cash flow (Left)

Ratio of shareholders’ equity to total assets (Right)

Dividend per share (Left)

Dividend payout ratio (Right)

(Billions of yen)

400

358.6

279.1

40.540.5

46.5

51.851.8

52.8

53.8

215.6

138.8

91.2

300

200

100

0

(%)
80

60

40

20

0

(Yen)
160

120

80

40

0

144

144

144

68

53

39.439.4

20.020.0

20.320.3

25.725.7

50.150.1

(%)
80

60

40

20

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

Annual Report 2018

14

 
Messages from the CQO, CTO, and CIO

CQO (Chief Quality Offi cer)

SUBARU defi nes “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” as the value we deliver to 
customers. The foundation of this core value is quality, and we consider 
quality to be one of our most fundamental responsibilities to our customers. 
Quality can be broadly defi ned to include everything from product quality 
to customer service quality, the quality of the day-to-day work of individual 
employees, and the quality of corporate activities, and I realize that itʼs 
important to steadily improve these dimensions of quality. I am determined 
to play a leading role in creating a quality standard by which all Group 
employees make quality the highest priority above all else.
  Airbag  defects  and  other  problems  that  lead  to  recalls  and  service 
campaigns  have  continued  to  occur,  and  I  deeply  regret  that  we  have 
caused  concern  and  inconvenience  to  customers  and  many  other 
stakeholders. Although we have seen steady improvement in the results of 
third-party  quality  assessments  for  the  U.S.  market,  our  relative  quality 
ratings in competition with other automakers have regrettably declined, and 
I consider this a critical issue. 

In response to these problems and issues, in new vehicle development 
we aim to eliminate recalls and service campaigns by further reinforcing 
milestone management at each stage of development and systematically 
working to prevent any reoccurrence of past defects. Taking into account 
customer usage conditions, we will make high-quality products that are easy 
for customers to understand and use, and simultaneously work to minimize 
vehicle downtime and increase customer satisfaction by undertaking call 
center  expansion,  building  a  system  for  the  smooth  provision  of 
replacement  parts  and  repair  parts,  and  improving  efficiency  in  service 
operations.
  We acknowledge that quality reforms are the top-priority issue in the 
new mid-term management vision. To achieve reforms, we will review all 
existing  processes  for  achieving  quality,  from  product  planning  to 
production. In conducting this review, to ensure that the business units 
involved in these processes do not waver in the philosophy that quality is 
key, we will strengthen the authority of the CQO and rigorously reinforce 
quality  management  systems  across  all  product  development  and 
manufacturing functions. 
  We  will  also  invest  in  facilities  for  quality-related  technology 
development, in simulators and other control-related evaluation facilities, 
and  in  facilities  with  modifiable  temperature  and  atmospheric  pressure 
control  for  environmental  and  durability  evaluation.  In  manufacturing, 
whereas until now we have made capital expenditures mainly for the purpose 
of increasing capacity, from now on we will invest heavily in renewal of aging 
facilities and traceability enhancement to raise the level of quality. We will 
actively invest in areas that contribute to quality improvement, including 
human resources investment, and aim to be No. 1 in the kind of quality that 
makes our products suitable for long-term use with peace of mind.

Senior Vice President

Atsushi Osaki

15

Annual Report 2018

 
CTO (Chief Technology Offi cer)

Director of the Board 
Executive Vice President

Tetsuo Onuki

CIO (Chief Information Offi cer)

Representative Director of the Board 
Executive Vice President

Masaki Okawara

Even in a time of industry transformation, when what people value in cars is 
said to be changing, SUBARU intends to place the utmost importance on 
delivering  “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind.” I want to be able to provide 
support for the enjoyment of driving, the enjoyment of freely traveling by 
car whether in youth or old age, and the enjoyment of a car lifestyle̶in 
other  words,  the  enrichment  of  peopleʼs  lives̶with  SUBARU  cars  and 
related services. As we continue to evolve the Subaru Global Platform over 
time,  major  challenges  are  safety  and  environmental  response.  We  will 
further enhance all-around safety technologies and aim to eliminate fatal 
accidents involving SUBARU cars by adding connected car technologies. To 
comply  with  local  environmental  regulations,  we  will  introduce  electric 
vehicles and hybrids and engage in tireless technological development. We 
want  to  create  and  propose  products  that  combine  environmental 
consideration with “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind.”

In  April  2018,  SUBARU  established  the  Engineering  Management 
Division. For an automaker the size of SUBARU to maintain a presence in the 
global  market  even  at  a  time  when  automobiles  are  undergoing 
transformation, I want to give the Engineering Management Division the 
capability  to  increase  the  mobility  of  the  resources  of  our  engineering 
departments so that we can speedily create and propose products and 
services  that  are  unique  to  SUBARU  and  different  from  those  of  other 
automakers.

Information (and IT) connects individuals to each other and one division to 
another, and I want to support improvement of management quality from an 
IT perspective by activating those connections. These days, this is called 
digital  transformation  (DX),  which  we  define  as  1)  business  process 
transformation and 2) new business creation. To realize DX at a high level, we 
are  examining  from  various  perspectives  matters  such  as  the  use  and 
application of scattered data and the suitability of services for the specifi c 
needs of SUBARUʼs customers. The development of our IT infrastructure 
going  forward  must  rest  on  a  foundation  of  information  security 
enhancement  and  the  creation  of  an  IT-conscious  culture  with  the 
participation of all employees. To establish a fi rm footing, beginning this year 
we will gradually realize initiatives in which we have engaged since last year. 
  Although there are probably various contributing factors behind the 
inappropriate  incidents  that  have  occurred  since  last  year,  I  consider 
improvement of poor communication and insuffi cient mutual understanding 
a matter of urgent importance. Creation of workplaces where people are 
considerate of one another is essential for this, and we will deploy IT tools 
as a means of compensating for defi ciencies in communication and mutual 
understanding. I intend to continue to play a part in activities to deepen 
connections with customers, enhance the SUBARU brand, and bring smiles 
to the faces of customers.

Annual Report 2018

16

 
Financial and Non-Financial Highlights
Years ended March 31

Financial Highlights

SUBARU CORPORATION and its consolidated subsidiaries

Net Sales

(Billions of yen)

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

3,232.3 3,326.0 3,405.2

2,877.9

2,408.1

Operating Income/Operating Margin

Operating income (Left)

Operating margin (Right)

(Billions of yen)

565.6

423.0

410.8

379.4

17.517.5

326.5

13.613.6

14.714.7

12.412.4

11.111.1

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

(%)
30

25

20

15

10

5

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

Capital Expenditures/Depreciation Expenses

R&D Expenses

100

108

121
Exchange rate (Yen to the U.S. dollar)

108

111

Capital expenditures

Depreciation expenses

(Billions of yen)

200

150

100

50

0

158.5

141.4

135.7

110.7

68.5

54.9

64.8

65.0

89.8

77.0

(Billions of yen)

150

120

90

60

30

0

121.1

114.2

102.4

83.5

60.1

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

Non-Financial Highlights

CO2 Emissions

Waste Generation

Overseas Group companies

Domestic Group companies

SUBARU

Overseas Group companies

Domestic Group companies

SUBARU

(Tons of CO2)
800,000

600,000

587,686

614,940

657,886 675,960 691,590

(Tons)
200,000

150,000

148,154

162,893 166,856 170,589

190,924

400,000

200,000

0

100,000

50,000

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

*Includes scrap metal sold

17

Annual Report 2018

Interest-Bearing Debt/D/E Ratio

Interest-bearing debt (Left)

D/E ratio (Right)

(Billions of yen)

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

269.7

0.350.35

211.2

0.210.21

170.0

148.3

0.130.13

0.100.10

86.2

0.060.06

ROE/ROA

ROE

ROA

(Times)
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0

(%)
40

30

20

10

0

36.9

23.6

30.4

29.3

20.7

18.8

20.2

15.3

14.6

13.4

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

*ROA = Operating income / Total assets (average at the beginning and end of the term)

Free Cash Flow/
Ratio of Shareholders’ Equity to Total Assets

Consolidated Unit Sales

Free cash flow (Left)

Ratio of shareholders’ equity to total assets (Right)

(Billions of yen)

400

300

200

100

0

358.6

279.1

51.851.8

52.852.8

46.546.5

53.853.8

215.6

40.540.5

138.8

91.2

(%)
80.0

60.0

40.0

20.0

0

(Thousand units)

1,200

900

600

300

0

1,065

1,067

911

958

825

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

*Automobile unit sales of SUBARU CORPORATION and its consolidated subsidiaries

Water Consumption

Overseas Group companies
Per unit of consolidated net sales (Right)

Domestic Group companies

SUBARU

(Thousand m3)
5,000

4,252

4,367

4,401

4,462

4,673

(Thousand m3/100 million yen)
0.30

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

0.180.18

0.150.15

0.140.14

0.130.13

0.140.14

0.24

0.18

0.12

0.06

0.00

Number of Employees

Non-consolidated

Consolidated

(Persons)
40,000

30,000

20,000

10,000

0

28,545

29,774

31,151

32,599 33,544

13,034
13,034

13,883
13,883

14,234
14,234

14,708 14,879
14,879
14,708

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

*Excluding executive offi cers, advisors and dispatches

Annual Report 2018

18

Business Overview

Automotive 
Business Unit

SUBARU continues to develop cars that promise 
total driving enjoyment and safety for all passengers.

The launch of the SUBARU 360 in 1958 marked SUBARUʼs start as an automaker. Ever since, we have 
contributed to the development of Japanʼs automotive industry by creating a succession of distinctive 
cars equipped with creative technologies such as the horizontally opposed engine and Symmetrical 
All-Wheel Drive. We continue to take on new challenges in order to provide all of our customers with 
“Enjoyment and Peace of Mind.” For example, we continue to evolve the EyeSight driver assist system, 
have improved safety performance and driving performance by adopting the Subaru Global Platform, 
our next-generation vehicle platform, and were the first Japanese automaker to use a pedestrian 
protection airbag.

Consolidated Net Sales 
Contribution Ratio of the 
Automotive Business Unit

95.0%

Net Sales
(Billions of yen)

Operating Income
(Billions of yen)

600

543.6

3,234.9

3,152.0

3,039.4

2,699.0

2,246.6

400

400.9

397.7

361.5

309.0

200

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

Overview of FYE March 2018

Consolidated Automobile Sales by Region (Thousand units)

■  Consolidated global unit sales increased 
by 0.2% year on year to 1,067,000 vehicles, 
reaching  a  record  high  for  the  sixth 
consecutive year.

■  Sales  in  Japan  were  163,000  units. 
Overseas  sales  were  903,000  units,  and 
unit  sales  in  North  America  reached  a 
record high for the ninth consecutive year.

19

Annual Report 2018

 Japan .....................163
 United States ........671
 Canada ....................57
 Russia.........................8
 Europe .....................40
 Australia ..................56
 China .......................27
 Others .....................45

Total .......................1,067

Product Lineup

Legacy Series

Consolidated unit sales: 279,000 units
Sales regions:  Japan, North America, Russia, Europe, 
Australia, China, and other

Consolidated unit sales: 291,000 units
Sales regions:  Japan, North America, Russia, Europe, 
Australia, China, and other

Consolidated unit sales: 51,000 units
Sales regions:  Japan, North America, Russia, Europe,

Australia, and other

Impreza Series

(SEDAN)

(5 Door)

Consolidated unit sales: 25,000 units
Sales regions:  Japan, Europe, Australia, and other

Consolidated unit sales: 9,000 units
Sales regions:  Japan, North America, Europe, 

Australia, China, and other

(North America: CROSSTREK)

Consolidated unit sales: 373,000 units
Sales regions:  Japan, North America, Russia, Europe, 
Australia, China, and other

Consolidated unit sales: 3,000 units
Sales region:  Japan

OEM Models

Consolidated unit sales: 34,000 units
Sales region:  Japan

(OEM supply from Daihatsu Motor Co., Ltd.)

*For the period from April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2018
*Automobile sales of SUBARU CORPORATION and its consolidated subsidiaries

Annual Report 2018

20

Business Overview

Automotive Business Unit

The SUBARU Concept of All-Around Safety

Aiming for the highest level of peace of mind 
and safety for all passengers

SUBARU pursues automobile safety performance from every perspective and is 
refining and perfecting core technologies on the basis of four safety criteria: 
primary safety, active safety, preventive safety, and passive safety.

Primary
Safety

Active
Safety

Preventive
Safety

Passive
Safety

Safe situation

Hazardous 
situation

Accident

Collision

Spread of 
damage

Preemptive 
accident 
avoidance

Damage 
reduction 
during an 
accident

Primary 
Safety

Basic design features for avoiding accidents
Increasing driving safety through basic design features such as 
car shape and controls

 Visibility design     

 Driving position     

 Interface

Active 
Safety

The ultimate in driving performance for greater safety
Facilitating hazard avoidance through performance improvement 
in the basic functions of a car: driving, turning, and stopping

 Horizontally opposed engine     

 Symmetrical AWD

Preventive 
Safety

Advanced technology that supports safe driving
Supporting safe driving by helping avoid collisions and reduce 
damage

 EyeSight

Passive 
Safety

Extra precautions just in case
Minimizing damage when an accident occurs

 Engine layout     
 Pedestrian protection airbag

 Subaru Global Platform

Safety Performance 
Recognized Worldwide

SUBARU has received the highest rating in the 
NCAP1 conducted by the authorities in Japan, 
the U.S., Australia, and other countries, as well 
as  in  the  safety  performance  assessment 
conducted by the IIHS2 in the U.S.3 

In the IIHS safety performance assessment, 
the Impreza, Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and 
WRX  (models  equipped  with  EyeSight  and 
Steering Responsive Headlights) received the 
2018  Top  Safety  Pick  Plus  (TSP+)  rating.  The 
2018 TSP/TSP+ awards only apply to the North 
America models.

1  NCAP: New Car Assessment Program
2  IIHS: Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
3  For ratings details, please refer to rating agency websites.

21

Annual Report 2018

Europe

Euro NCAP
5★

Japan

U.S.A.

JNCAP
5★

JNCAP
ASV++

IIHS
TSP+ or TSP

U.S.A.

Australia

ANCAP
5★

US-NCAP
5★

JNCAP ASV++ rated models: Levorg and WRX (models equipped with EyeSight) in 2017
JNCAP 5-star rated models: Impreza and SUBARU XV in 2016
2018 IIHS TSP rated models: 2018 Forester (models equipped with EyeSight and Steering 
Responsive Headlights)
2018 IIHS TSP+ rated models: 2018 Impreza, Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and WRX 
(models equipped with EyeSight and Steering Responsive Headlights)
US-NCAP 5-star rated models: 2018 Impreza, Crosstrek, Legacy, Outback, and Forester
Euro NCAP 5-star rated models: Impreza and SUBARU XV in 2017
ANCAP 5-star rated model: SUBARU XV in 2017

 
SUBARU Core Technologies

Horizontally-Opposed Engine (Boxer engine)

Compact, low center of gravity
The horizontally opposed engine has pistons arranged symmetrically to the left 
and  right  of  the  crankshaft.  Since  the  opposed  pistons  mutually  cancel  out 
engine vibrations, the engine can rotate smoothly, which reduces vibrations 
conveyed to the vehicle interior. The engineʼs low height and compact design 
contribute to low vehicle center of gravity. The stable attitude provides a high 
sense of security during driving.

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

Superior overall weight distribution
The  combination  of  the  low  center  of  gravity  provided  by  the  horizontally 
opposed engine and superior longitudinal-transverse weight balance achieved 
by placing the transmission near the center of the vehicle maximizes all-wheel 
drive capability and delivers superb driving performance in various conditions. 
SUBARU has been committed to Symmetrical AWD as a core technology that 
drivers can depend on in every situation from day-to-day town use to high-
speed highway driving.

Subaru Global Platform

A next-generation vehicle platform designed 
with the future in mind, looking ahead to 2025
SUBARU is sequentially introducing the Subaru Global Platform, starting with 
the  all-new  Impreza  launched  in  October  2016.  The  new  vehicle  platform 
substantially  increases  body  and  chassis  rigidity  and  further  lowers  vehicle 
center  of  gravity,  raising  the  level  of  active  safety  and  passive  safety  and 
delivering  responsive  handling  performance  and  a  comfortable  ride  with 
reduced unpleasant vibration and noise.

EyeSight Driver Assist System

Stereo cameras for advanced object 
recognition capabilities
The  use  of  two  cameras  positioned  to  the  left  and  right,  like  human  eyes, 
contributes to preventive safety by helping avoid accidents, reduce impact, and 
alleviate  driver  burden  by  enabling  three-dimensional  recognition  of  cars, 
pedestrians, and other objects in front of the vehicle and accurate recognition of 
the distance, shape, and speed of movement of these objects. SUBARU began 
development of a driver assist system using stereo cameras in 1989. Application of 
research results and experience accumulated over many years since then has 
culminated in EyeSight, a system that anyone can use with peace of mind. In 2017, 
we introduced EyeSight Touring Assist, which dramatically reduces driver fatigue by 
automatically assisting accelerator, brake, and steering operation at a wide range 
of speeds from 0 to approximately 120 km/h for expressway driving.
SUBARU will continue to work to realize an accident-free future.

SUBARU Boxer

Conventional In-Line Engine

Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive (AWD)

Subaru Global Platform

Stereo cameras

Stereo camera recognition image

Annual Report 2018

22

 
Business Overview

A New 3-Row SUV Developed Exclusively 

for the North American Market

Debut of the all-new

ASCENT

The ASCENT is a crossover SUV newly developed for family users who require a 3-row SUV not available in 
the previous lineup. It forms part of the plan to achieve sustained growth in North America, SUBARU’s most 
important market. Designed for families who want to get the most out of their active lives, the ASCENT 
delivers the enjoyment of being able to go anywhere with peace of mind.

  Comfortable cabin environment realized by a package design that gives all passengers a pleasant ride experience in 
any seat, ample interior features, and vibration noise suppression made possible by the Subaru Global Platform’s 
increased body rigidity

  Standard EyeSight Driver Assist Technology and pursuit of top-of-class safety performance

  Powered by an all-new 2.4-liter four-cylinder Boxer direct fuel injection turbo engine, offering drivability and 
fuel economy equal to or better than that of six-cylinder engines

  Standard SUBARU Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive and X-Mode offer the optimal blend of drivability and SUV capability

  To be built in the U.S. with start of sales scheduled for early summer 2018

23

Annual Report 2018

The Head of Development Discusses his Vision of the ASCENT 
Uncompromising Attention to Detail in a Vehicle Designed for North America

Background to the Birth of the ASCENT
SUBARUʼs vehicle lineup for North America consists mainly of compact to mid-size 
SUVs. There are no vehicles that families with more than three children can continue 
to drive, and some customers switch to vehicles of other automakers. Development 
of the ASCENT, a crossover SUV exclusively for North America, began in response to 
strong  requests  from  dealers  in  North  America  who  argued  that  a  3-row  SUV  is 
absolutely necessary for customers to continue to drive SUBARU vehicles throughout 
their life.

Uncompromising Attention to the Third-row Seats and Comfort
Ordinarily, the third row of seats is cramped, the air conditioning doesnʼt reach the 
passengers, visibility is poor, and itʼs diffi cult to converse with passengers in the second 
row. We aimed to eliminate the disadvantages of what is derisively called the “penalty 
box” and instead create third-row seats that would actually make children enjoy riding 
there. We had North American dealer employees ride in full-size mockups and went 
through a repeated process of trial and error based on their impressions and opinions. 
Our highest priority in development was to uncompromisingly create a comfortable 
cabin space in each row. Of course, we also included ample interior features conceived 
from the perspective of families and children to ensure that every member of the 
family enjoys the ride. In addition, in planning the interior features, we set an objective 
of not giving people a reason for rejection on the grounds of unavailability of a 
particular feature offered by other automakers.

Project General Manager 
Product & Portfolio Planning Division*

Yasunori Kumagai

Uncompromising Attention to Driving Performance
Although 3.5-liter six-cylinder engines are the norm in this class for other automakers, we newly developed a 2.4-liter four 
cylinder downsized turbocharged direct-injection boxer engine to meet recent environmental requirements and realize 
top-of-class fuel efficiency. To make the ASCENT suitable for daily family use, we use an engine that runs on budget-
friendly regular gasoline. We dispelled the conventional image of a four-cylinder engine, giving the engine powerful 
driving performance in no way inferior to competitorsʼ six-cylinder engines in freeway merging and high-speed passing 
situations. To the contrary, I think that the end result is a vehicle that will enable customers to personally experience the 
high-RPM boost and exhilarating driving performance distinctive to a turbocharged engine.    

Uncompromising Attention to Safety
Passive safety for third-row passengers was a focus of uncompromising attention from the very beginning of development. 
The ASCENT is vastly superior to vehicles of other automakers with respect to the extent of head injuries and integrity of 
passenger survival space in a rear-end collision. Committed to protecting the rearmost passengers, we designed a thick 
rear frame and at the early stage of development created a structure capable of absorbing impact. While the ASCENT has 
of course successfully passed the assessments of third-party ratings organizations as proof of safety, third-row safety is not 
included in those assessments. Even so, we are fully committed to protecting drivers and all passengers in the real world, 
beyond what tests demand. Thatʼs the SUBARU safety concept.

Since the ASCENT is for family use, we focused on quiet and smooth ride comfort, and throughout development boosted 
our objectives in these areas several times. We upgraded our objectives and embraced the challenge of outstripping other 
automakers when competitors increased the performance of their vehicles during the ASCENTʼs prototype stage and at 
the latter stages of development. We have collaborated time and again with employees of dealers in North America and 
SIA to put the fi nishing touches on a car that dealers and makers would want for themselves. It was the desire of the entire 
development team to create a vehicle that customers will be truly glad they purchased and that others will recognize as a 
high-quality vehicle and wise purchase.

*As of September 30, 2018

Annual Report 2018

24

Business Overview

Aerospace Company

Leveraging tradition and innovative technologies to 
develop and produce a wide variety of aircraft.

SUBARUʼs roots trace to 1917 and Aircraft Research Laboratory, later to become 
Nakajima  Aircraft.  The  Aerospace  Company,  which  has  inherited  Nakajima 
Aircraftʼs  manufacturing  technologies  and  spirit,  leads  Japanʼs  aerospace 
industry and develops and produces a wide variety of aircraft.

In the defense program, we develop, manufacture, maintain, repair, and 
provide  technical  support  for  products  such  as  the  UH-1J  multipurpose 
helicopter used by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force for disaster relief and 
other purposes, the T-5 Maritime Self-Defense Force trainer, unmanned aerial 
vehicles  (more  than  15  models  developed  over  a  half  century),  and  flight 
simulators. In the commercial program, we participate in many international joint 
development projects for Boeing. We are responsible for the development and 
manufacturing of the center wing box as well as wing-to-body fairings and the 
integration of the center wing box with the main landing gear for the 777X, 
Boeingʼs newest large passenger airliner, and other Boeing aircraft. In addition, 
taking  advantage  of  an  alliance  with  Bell  Helicopter  Textron,  we  are  jointly 
developing the SUBARU BELL 412EPX.

Boeing 777X

By further refi ning our technologies through involvement in a wide variety of 
aircraft programs, we will continue to take on additional challenges for growing 
into an aircraft manufacturer with a global presence.

SUBARU BELL 412EPX
This will become the basis for the UH-X, 
which is a new multipurpose helicopter for 
the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force.

Consolidated Net Sales 
Contribution Ratio of the 
Aerospace Company

4.2%

25

Annual Report 2018

Net Sales
(Billions of yen)

Operating Income
(Billions of yen)

152.8

142.8

138.8

142.2

124.4

200

100

100

50

0

18.9

18.2

14.1

12.3

9.1

20

15

10

5

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

 
 
Overview of Center Wing Box and 
SUBARUʼs Technology

SUBARUʼs advanced technological capabilities 
continue to support the development and 
production of wings that have proven their worth 
in the worldʼs skies for more than forty years.

Since first participating in Boeing passenger program in 1973, we have been 
involved in development and production as a key partner of Boeing for more 
than forty years. We manufacture the center wing box, the critical aircraft section 
where the right and left wings are attached to the forward and aft fuselage 
sections.  Since  the  center  wing  box  contains  the  fuel,  they  must  have  high 
mechanical strength and high fl uid tightness. For these reasons, great accuracy 
and  advanced  assembly  technologies  are  required  for  its  manufacture,  and 
SUBARU is one of the few companies capable of making them. The Handa Plant, 
where center wing boxes are manufactured, is a global-level production center 
that produces these parts for the new Boeing 777X as well as for the 777 large 
airliner, the 787 mid-size airliner, the Ministry of Defenseʼs P-1 maritime patrol 
aircraft, and the C-2 transport aircraft. 

SUBARUʼs advanced technological capabilities are recognized worldwide. 
For example, we also cooperate in A380 super jumbo airliner program with 
Airbus. We engage in development on the “Drop test for Simplifi ed Evaluation 
of Non-symmetrically Distributed sonic boom” Project (D-SEND) together with 
Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

A center wing box (Handa Plant)

President 
Aerospace Company

Shoichiro Tozuka

Message from the Company President

The Aerospace Company will contribute to the 
enhancement of the SUBARU brand.

We are a start-to-fi nish aircraft builder that is capable of the complete development 
and  manufacturing  of  aircraft  fuselages,  from  materials  development  to  quality 
assurance, including fl ight testing. Flight safety is an important factor for aircraft. And 
for many years we have fostered a culture in which quality and safety are recognized as 
inextricably linked and uncompromisingly pursued. This total safety concept applied to 
aircraft, from materials development to quality assurance, including fl ight testing, is at 
the core of SUBARUʼs DNA. 

The Aerospace Company currently faces a major inflection point. A change of 
mainstay production models is underway at Boeing, with production of the Boeing 777 
decreasing, due to development of the 777X, and the production rate of the 787 
increased to 14 shipsets per month in its stead. At the same time, we have entered the 
design and production phase of new business activities that will support the future 
growth of the Aerospace Company, such as 777X center wing box, the SUBARU BELL 
412EPX and other projects. So our engineering load and facilities investments have 
peaked. Also, although continued growth in global air passenger demand is forecast, 
price competition for fuselages is intensifying. 
  We will continue to steadily and reliably play a role in enhancing the SUBARU 
brand by further honing our technological strengths in areas including wing design 
and manufacturing.

Annual Report 2018

26

 
 
History

History of the SUBARU Group

SUBARU, which can trace some of its roots to Aircraft Research Laboratory, 
has continuously nurtured highly creative technologies and increased corporate value 
by pursuing business alliances to respond to major changes in the times. 
Here we outline the history of the SUBARU Group to date.

1917

Establishment of Aircraft Research Laboratory

1968

Establishment of Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA)

1931

Establishment of Nakajima Aircraft Co., Ltd.

1968

Dissolution of the business alliance with Isuzu Motors Ltd.

1945

Change of company name from 
Nakajima Aircraft to Fuji Sangyo

1968

Signing of a business alliance agreement with 
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

1946 Production of the 
fi rst Rabbit Scooter

1968

Start of exports of Robin engines for 
snowmobiles to Polaris (USA)

1969

Start of operation of the Yajima Plant

1953

Establishment of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd.
Start of aircraft production and automobile development

1960 Opening of the Gunma Main Plant

1960

Listing of shares on the Tokyo Stock Exchange

1972

Release of the Leone 4WD Estate Van, 
the world’s fi rst mass-production 4WD passenger vehicle

1978

Conclusion of a 767 business agreement with Boeing

1983

Start of full-scale operation of the Oizumi Plant

1987

Release of the Justy model equipped with the world’s 
fi rst electro-continuously variable transmission (ECVT)

1966

Signing of a business alliance agreement with 
Isuzu Motors Ltd.

1987

Establishment of Subaru-Isuzu Automotive, Inc. (SIA) 
in the U.S. in a joint venture with Isuzu Motors Ltd.

SUBARU Models 
through the Years

1966

1972

1984

1958

1969

1977

1985

SUBARU 1000 
four-door sedan released

Rex released

Justy released

SUBARU 360 released

R-2 released

Brat released

Alcyone released

1961

1971

1983

1989

SUBARU 
Sambar truck released

27

Annual Report 2018

Leone coupe released

Domingo released

Legacy series released

Origin of the SUBARU Name and Logo

“SUBARU” is Japanese for the Pleiades star cluster in the 
constellation Taurus. These stars are also known as “six-
star group.” The name refl ects the fact that Fuji Heavy 
Industries was formed from capital contributions from 
fi ve companies that sprang from Nakajima Aircraft.

1989

Establishment of Subaru Canada, Inc. (SCI)

1989

Completion of Subaru Research & Testing Center (SKC)

1990

Subaru of America (SOA) made a wholly owned subsidiary

2005

Dissolution of the alliance with GM, agreement to enter 
into a business alliance with Toyota Motor Corporation

2007

Start of production of Toyota cars (Camry) at SIA

1991

Participation in the Boeing 777 program

1993

Start of operation of the Handa Plant

1999

Capital and business alliance with 
General Motors Corporation (GM) (USA)

1999

Business alliance with Suzuki Motor Corporation

2000

2002

2003

2003

2005

Dissolution of the business alliance with 
Nissan Motor Co., Ltd.

Dissolution of the SIA joint venture with Isuzu and formal 
signing of a contract production agreement

The Legacy wins the 2003–2004 
Car of the Year Japan award

Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA) 
made a wholly owned subsidiary

Participation in the Boeing 787 program 
Delivery of main wings for next-generation transport 
aircraft and next-generation fi xed-wing patrol aircraft

2012

2012

2014

2016

Start of knockdown production of the 
SUBARU XV in Malaysia

Termination of production of mini-vehicles and 
shift to marketing on an OEM basis

Signing of an agreement to participate in a project to 
develop and mass produce the Boeing 777X

Termination of contract production of the 
Toyota Camry at SIA
Transfer of production of Impreza vehicles for 
North America to SIA

2016

All-new Impreza Sport/GR wins the 2016–2017 
Car of the Year Japan award

2017

Change of company name to SUBARU CORPORATION

2017

Termination of production and sales of 
SUBARU general-purpose engines and generators

1992

1998

2008

2014

Vivio released

Pleo released

Exiga released

Levorg released

1992

2003

2012

2014

Impreza series released

Outback released

SUBARU BRZ released

WRX released

1997

2005

2012

8
2018

Forester released

B9 Tribeca released

SUBARU XV released

Ascent released

Annual Report 2018

28

Directors, Auditors, and Executive Offi cers
(As of October 1, 2018)

Directors of the Board

Director of the Board
Chairman
Yasuyuki Yoshinaga

“Tadashii-Kaisha” 
Promotion Dept., 
Compliance Offi ce, Quality

Representative 
Director of the Board 
President
CEO (Chief Executive Offi cer)
Tomomi Nakamura

Aerospace Company

Representative 
Director of the Board 
Executive Vice President
CIO (Chief Information Offi cer)
Masaki Okawara

IT Strategy Div., 
Manufacturing

Director of the Board 
Executive Vice President
CFO (Chief Financial Offi cer)
Toshiaki Okada

Corporate Planning Dept., 
Secretarial Offi ce, 
Finance & Accounting Dept., 
Human Resources Dept., 
“Tadashii-Kaisha” Promotion Dept., 
Compliance Offi ce, 
SUBARU Next Story Promotion Offi ce

Director of the Board 
Executive Vice President
Yoichi Kato

External Relations Dept., 
General Administration Dept., 
CSR & Environment Dept., 
Group Company Management Dept., 
Legal Dept., Internal Audit Dept.

Director of the Board 
Executive Vice President
CTO (Chief Technology Offi cer)
Tetsuo Onuki

Engineering Management Div., 
Engineering Div. 1, 
Engineering Div. 2, 
Intellectual Property Dept.

Outside Director
Yoshinori Komamura

Outside Director
Shigehiro Aoyama

Auditors

Standing Corporate Auditor
Akira Mabuchi

Standing Corporate Auditor
Shuzo Haimoto

Outside Corporate Auditor
Shinichi Mita

Outside Corporate Auditor
Yasuyuki Abe

29

Annual Report 2018

Executive Offi cers

Title

Name

Areas of Responsibility

Executive Vice President

Katsuyuki Mizuma

Overseas Sales & Marketing Div. 1, 
Overseas Sales & Marketing Div. 2 

Senior Vice President

Hideaki Matsuki

Parts & Accessories Div. 

Senior Vice President

Hiromi Tsutsumi

Corporate Communications Dept., Human Resources Dept.

Senior Vice President

Shoichiro Tozuka

Aerospace Company

Senior Vice President

Toshiaki Tamegai

Manufacturing Div.

Senior Vice President

Takuji Dai

Product & Portfolio Planning Div.

Senior Vice President

Fumiaki Hayata

Corporate Planning Dept.

Senior Vice President

Atsushi Osaki

CQO (Chief Quality Offi cer), Quality Assurance Div.

Senior Vice President

Tatsuro Kobayashi

Purchasing Div.

Vice President

Hiroki Kurihara

Customer Service Div.

Vice President

Katsuo Saito

Business Planning Dept., General Administration Dept., 
CSR & Environment Dept., Group Company Management Dept.

Vice President

Yasuhiro Hamanaka

Aerospace Company

Vice President

Eiji Ogino

SIA1

Vice President

Yasushi Nagae

Quality Assurance Div., Customer Service Div.

Vice President

Jinya Shoji

Overseas Sales & Marketing Div. 1, SCI 2, NASI 3

Vice President

Hiromi Tamo

Engineering Management Div., Technical Research Center

Vice President

Yoichi Sato

Japan Sales & Marketing Div.

Vice President

Takeshi Seiyama

SIA1

Vice President

Osamu Eriguchi

Engineering Div. 2

Vice President

Tomoaki Emori

Global Marketing Div.

Vice President

Tatsuya Okuno

Engineering Div. 1

Vice President

Tamotsu Inui

Cost Planning & Management Div.

1  Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.
2  Subaru Canada, Inc.
3  North American Subaru, Inc.

Annual Report 2018

30

Corporate Governance

Basic Policy on Corporate Governance
  Based on the corporate philosophy, SUBARU aspires to be a compelling company with a strong market presence. The 
enhancement  of  corporate  governance  is  one  of  the  managementʼs  top  priorities  as  SUBARU  works  to  gain  the 
satisfaction and trust of all its stakeholders by achieving sustainable growth and improving its corporate value in the 
medium to long term based on the “Customer First” principle.
  SUBARU clearly separates the function of decision making and the oversight of corporate management from that of the 
execution of business operations and aims to realize effective corporate management by expediting decision making.
  SUBARU ensures proper decision making and the oversight of corporate management and the execution of business 
operations as well as enhances compliance and its risk management system through the monitoring of its management 
and operations and advice provided by outside offi cers.
 SUBARU implements proper and timely disclosure of information in order to improve the transparency of management.

Corporate Philosophy
1.   We strive to create advanced technology on an ongoing basis and provide consumers with distinctive products with the 

highest level of quality and customer satisfaction.

2.   We aim to continuously promote harmony between people, society, and the environment while contributing to the 

prosperity of society.

3.  We look to the future with a global perspective and aim to foster a vibrant, progressive company.

SUBARU has instituted the Corporate Governance Guidelines with the objective of clearly defining its basic policy on 
corporate governance, governance framework, and operating policy.

WEB

Corporate Governance Guidelines and Corporate Governance Report
https://www.subaru.co.jp/en/csr/governance.html

*We plan to revise the guidelines and report by December 31, 2018 in light of the content of the June 2018 revisions to Japanʼs Corporate Governance Code.

Management Organization
The Company has chosen to be a company with a board of corporate auditors as its corporate governance structure, and 
the Board of Directors decides and supervises, and the Board of Corporate Auditors audits, the execution of important 
business. The Board of Directors is composed of eight directors, two of whom are highly independent outside directors to 
further strengthen governance. The Board of Corporate Auditors is composed of four corporate auditors, two of whom are 
outside corporate auditors to provide objective oversight of management.

System of Corporate Governance

Election and 
dismissal

Collaboration

Reporting

Collaboration

Auditing

s
r
o
t
i
d
u
A
g
n
i
t
n
u
o
c
c
A

General Meeting of Shareholders

Election and dismissal

Election and dismissal

Board of Corporate Auditors: 4

Corporate auditors: 2

Outside corporate auditors: 2

Auditing

Information 
exchange with 
outside offi cers

Board of Directors: 8

Executive Nomination Meeting*

Directors: 6

Executive Compensation Meeting*

Outside directors: 2

Decision making

Submission 
and reporting

*  The Executive Nomination Meeting and Executive 

Compensation Meeting consist of the representative 
directors of the board, director in charge of the 
Secretariat Offi ce, and outside directors.

Collaboration

Internal Audit
Department

Reporting

Reporting

President

Executive Management Board Meeting

Auditing

Instructions and oversight

Reporting

Election and 
dismissal

Vice
Presidents

Shared Corporate Operations Departments at HQ

SUBARU Automobiles Division

Executive Meeting

Aerospace Company

Executive Meeting

Group companies

Submission and 
reporting of important 
matters

Policy instructions 
Approval of plans, etc.

Plan proposal 
reports, etc.

Committees

CSR Committee

Compliance Committee

Quality Improvement Committee

Central Safety and Health Committee

Environmental Committee

Social Contribution Committee

Corporate Governance Planning 
Committee

etc.

i

d
n
a
g
n
k
a
m
n
o
i
s
i
c
e
D

s
n
o
i
t
c
n
u
f

t
h
g
i
s
r
e
v
o

s
n
o
i
t
a
r
e
p
o
s
s
e
n
i
s
u
B

n
o
i
t
c
n
u
f
n
o
i
t
u
c
e
x
e

31

Annual Report 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  With regard to the business operation system, the Company has established the Executive Management Board 
Meeting as a preliminary consultation body to conduct deliberations on companywide management strategies and the 
execution of important business before their presentation at the Board of Directorsʼ Meeting. In addition, the Company 
has adopted a vice president system and established the Executive Board Meeting as the decision-making body of each 
business department, and converted the Aerospace division into an internal company, in order to clarify responsibilities 
and accelerate the execution of business operations.

The Company currently has three special advisors, none of whom is a retired representative director of the board and  
president or CEO. The principle role of special advisors is to make themselves available on a regular basis to provide 
business advice upon request. The special advisors do not participate in meetings and are not involved in management. In 
principle, the term of offi ce of special advisors is one year.
SUBARU has abolished the Senior Advisor System.

Development of Internal Control Systems
The Company has adopted by resolution of the Board of Directors a basic policy on development of a system to ensure 
that execution of duties by directors complies with laws and regulations and the Articles of Incorporation in accordance 
with the Companies Act and the Ordinance for Enforcement of the Companies Act as well as other systems stipulated by 
ordinance of the Ministry of Justice as necessary to ensure the properness of operations of a stock company and a 
corporate group consisting of the stock company and its subsidiaries. SUBARU occasionally plans, develops, and applies 
revisions to this basic policy.

Internal Audits and Auditing by Corporate Auditors
SUBARU has established the Audit Department as an internal auditing organization and conducts internal audits of 
business execution at SUBARU and its domestic and overseas Group companies. At the beginning of the fi scal year, the 
Audit Department prepares an internal audit plan for the fi scal year that takes into consideration the internal control status 
of the Group as a whole and systematically implements the plan. The Department prepares and distributes to the directors, 
corporate auditors, and concerned parties audit reports on the results of internal audits and reports quarterly at the 
Executive Management Board Meeting. 

SUBARUʼs corporate auditors attend meetings of the Board of Directors and other important meetings, inspect 
business sites and subsidiaries, interview members of the Audit Department, and audit the execution of duties by the 
directors and others in accordance with the audit policy and audit plan established by the Board of Corporate Auditors.

The Audit Department and corporate auditors work to deepen collaboration and strengthen the auditing function 
through monthly internal audit report meetings held by the Audit Department and quarterly dialogues about internal 
control. The Audit Department and corporate auditors endeavor to strengthen the auditing function through quarterly 
information sharing with the accounting auditors.

Evaluation of Internal Control System for Financial Reporting
An evaluation of the internal control system related to fi nancial reporting in connection with the internal control reporting 
system based on Japanʼs Financial Instruments and Exchange Act is conducted using the fi nal date of the fi scal year of the 
consolidated fi nancial statements as the reference date. The evaluation conforms to the standards for evaluation of internal 
control related to fi nancial reporting that are generally accepted to be fair and reasonable.

The Chief Executive Offi cer (CEO) and the Chief Financial Offi cer (CFO) evaluated the status of the development of the 
internal control system related to fi nancial reporting as of March 31, 2018 and affi rmed that it has been established properly 
and functions effectively and issued an internal control report audited by the Accounting Auditors to that effect.

Policy on Appointing Senior Management and 
Nominating Candidates for Director and Corporate Auditor
The Board of Directors, when nominating candidates for directors and corporate auditors and appointing vice presidents, 
nominates persons with extensive experience, high levels of ability and insight, and advanced expertise commensurate 
with a position as a director, corporate auditor, or vice president within the Company in order to contribute to achieving 
the Companyʼs corporate philosophy and effective corporate governance, as well as sustainable growth and improvement 
in corporate value in the medium and long term. 

The Board of Directors appoints two or more independent outside directors from the viewpoint of giving consideration 
to diversity, etc., within the Board of Directors, and improving the transparency of management and shareholder value 
through independent oversight of management.

Annual Report 2018

32

 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance

Reasons for Appointing the Outside Offi cers and Status of Principal Activities

Outside 
Directors

Independent 
Offi cer Status 1

Reasons for Appointing

Meeting Attendance

Board of Directors

Signifi cant Concurrent 
Positions 2

Yoshinori 
Komamura

○

Shigehiro 
Aoyama

○

Mr. Yoshinori Komamura has served three years as an independent outside director 
of  the  Company  as  of  the  conclusion  of  the  87th  Ordinary  General  Meeting  of 
Shareholders. He has drawn on his career in management as a representative director 
of Komatsu Ltd. to provide valuable advice on the management of the Company 
based on his abundant experience and extensive knowledge as a business manager 
and his deep insight into corporate social responsibility. Therefore, the Company has 
appointed Mr. Komamura with the expectation that he will contribute to maintaining 
and  improving  management  transparency  and  soundness  and  strengthening 
corporate  governance  by  continuing  to  provide  advice  on  all  aspects  of  the 
Companyʼs management from an independent standpoint as an outside director.

Mr. Shigehiro Aoyama has served two years as an independent outside director 
of the Company as of the conclusion of the 87th Ordinary General Meeting of 
Shareholders. He has drawn on his career in management as a representative 
director  of  Suntory  Holdings  Limited  to  provide  valuable  advice  on  the 
management of the Company based on his abundant experience and extensive 
knowledge as a business manager and his deep insight into corporate social 
responsibility. Therefore, the Company has appointed Mr. Aoyama with the 
expectation that he will contribute to maintaining and improving management 
transparency  and  soundness  and  strengthening  corporate  governance  by 
continuing to provide advice on all aspects of the Companyʼs management from 
an independent standpoint as an outside director.

Attended 17 of 17 
meetings

Adviser, Komatsu Ltd.

Member of the Board, 
Institute for Strategic
Leadership (ISL)

Attended 17 of 17 
meetings

Supreme Advisor, Suntory 
Holdings Limited

External Director, Takamatsu 
Construction Group Co., Ltd.

President, The Distribution 
Economics Institute of Japan

Director, Japan Marketing 
Association

Outside 
Corporate 
Auditors

Independent 
Offi cer Status 1

Reasons for Appointing

Shinichi 
Mita

Yasuyuki 
Abe

○

○

Mr. Shinichi Mita has served three years as an independent outside corporate 
auditor  of  the  Company  as  of  the  conclusion  of  the  87th  Ordinary  General 
Meeting of Shareholders. The Company has appointed him in the belief that he is 
well  qualified  as  an  outside  corporate  auditor  since  he  has  management 
experience  and  knowledge  in  both  oversight  and  business  execution,  and 
particularly extensive experience and insight into accounting and finance in 
corporate activities, gained as a director and executive offi cer of Kao Corporation.

Mr. Yasuyuki Abe has served two years as an independent outside corporate 
auditor  of  the  Company  as  of  the  conclusion  of  the  87th  Ordinary  General 
Meeting of Shareholders. The Company has appointed him in the belief that he 
is well qualifi ed as an outside corporate auditor since he has a management 
career in both oversight and business execution and abundant experience and 
extensive  knowledge  as  a  business  manager  gained  as  a  senior  managing 
executive offi cer and member of the board of Sumitomo Corporation.

Meeting Attendance

Board of 
Directors

Board of 
Corporate 
Auditors

Attended 
17 of 17 
meetings

Attended 
12 of 12 
meetings

Attended 
15 of 17 
meetings

Attended 
11 of 12 
meetings

Signifi cant Concurrent 
Positions 2

Adviser, Mizuho Capital Partners 
Co., Ltd.

Member of the Board, 
Japan Association for 
Chief Financial Offi cers (JACFO)

Advisor, Sumitomo Corporation

Director of the Board (External), 
Chairman of the Board, 
JVC KENWOOD Corporation

Advisor, ORANGE AND 
PARTNERS CO., LTD.

Inappropriate practices, such as the performance of fi nal vehicle inspections by persons not certifi ed as fi nal inspectors, inappropriate conduct in 
the form of alteration of measurement data at the time of fuel economy and emissions sampling in the fi nal vehicle inspection process, and 
inappropriate measurement procedures by which vehicle fuel economy and emissions measurements were treated as valid measurements despite 
trace errors and humidity errors have been identifi ed at the SUBARU Gunma Manufacturing Division. Although the outside directors and outside 
corporate auditors were not aware of these facts before they came to light, they regularly offer opinions about the importance of compliance and 
internal control based on their extensive experience and keen insights and, since the time these facts came to light, have discharged their offi cial 
responsibilities by receiving reports on and ascertaining the status of progress with investigations into the facts, responding to demands from the 
Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism in a timely and appropriate manner, striving to further strengthen and inculcate compliance, 
and calling for appropriate measures to prevent any reoccurrence of such issues.

1  Outside directors and outside corporate auditors unlikely to have confl icts of interest with general shareholders as stipulated by the Tokyo Stock Exchange
2  As of March 31, 2018

Executive Nomination Meeting
To  ensure  fairness  and  transparency  of  decisions  on  executive  appointments,  the  Executive  Nomination  Meeting 
deliberates nominations of candidates for director and corporate auditor and appointments of vice presidents and submits 
reports to the Board of Directors on nomination proposals unanimously approved by its members. Nominations are 
decided by resolution of the Board of Directors. Explanations of matters such as the candidateʼs background, the status of 
concurrent positions, insight, and expected roles at the Company are provided for each nomination and appointment. 
Approval of the Board of Corporate Auditors is obtained for nominations of candidates for corporate auditor.

The Executive Nomination Meeting consists of the representative directors, the director in charge of the Secretariat 
Offi ce, and outside directors and is chaired by the representative director of the Board and chairman (the representative 
director of the Board and President if the position of representative director of the Board and chairman is vacant or an 
accident has occurred). 

The Executive Nomination Meeting was convened twice in FYE 2018 and submitted reports mainly on the executive 

structure and appointments, the division of duties of executives, and the appointment of representatives of major subsidiaries.

33

Annual Report 2018

 
 
Policy for Determining the Amount of Compensation for Directors and the Calculation Method
Compensation, etc., of directors is determined in view of the following items.

  Compensation, etc., is at a level commensurate with the roles and responsibilities of directors and is appropriate, fair, 
and balanced.
  The compensation structure is determined by giving consideration to providing motivation for sustained improvement in 
corporate performance and corporate value and securing talented personnel.

By a resolution passed at the 85th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, held on June 28, 2016, the maximum 
total amount of annual compensation, etc., for directors is 1.2 billion yen (including 200 million yen for outside directors), 
and the Executive Compensation Meeting determines compensation within that limit by delegation of the Board of 
Directors. The specifi c composition of compensation, etc., is as described below. The total amount of compensation and 
level of each compensation type is set according to job responsibilities and status as inside or outside director utilizing 
survey data from specialized outside agencies, etc. The maximum total amount of monetary compensation related to long-
term incentives is 200 million yen per year.

1)   Basic  compensation :  a  fixed  portion,  with  the  specific  amount  determined  based  on  job  position,  taking  into 

consideration the business environment and other factors

2)   Short-term performance-linked compensation: a performance-linked portion, with the specific amount determined 
based on consolidated ordinary income for the current fi scal year, taking into consideration improvement in ROE and 
the shareholdersʼ equity ratio, personnel development, and the business environment

3)   Long-term incentives: compensation to grant restricted stock for the purpose of providing an incentive for sustained 

improvement of the Companyʼs corporate value and further value sharing with the shareholders

In view of the role of outside directors in management monitoring and oversight from an independent standpoint, the 

Company does not provide short-term performance-linked compensation or long-term incentives to outside directors.

By a resolution passed at the 75th Ordinary General Meeting of Shareholders, held on June 27, 2006, the maximum 
total amount of annual compensation, etc., for corporate auditors is 100 million yen. An amount determined through 
discussion among the corporate auditors based on position, taking into consideration the business environment and other 
factors, is paid as basic compensation for corporate auditors.

Total Amount of Compensation for Directors and Corporate Auditors by Type

Classifi cation

Number

Basic compensation
(paid in fi xed monthly 
installments)

Total compensation (millions of yen)

Performance-linked compensation

Short-term performance-linked 
compensation

Long-term 
incentives

Directors (excluding outside directors)

Corporate auditors (excluding outside corporate auditors)

Outside executive offi cers

Total

8

2

4

14

298

56

46

400

151

ー

ー

151

37

̶

̶

37

486

56

46

588

Note:  The above table includes two directors who resigned before the last day of the fi scal year under review. At the end of the fi scal year under review, there 

were 8 directors (including 2 outside directors) and 4 corporate auditors (including 2 outside corporate auditors).

Executive Compensation Meeting
The Executive Compensation Meeting determines the compensation of directors and vice presidents, while taking into 
consideration factors such as the compensation levels of appropriately comparable other companies, the compensation of the 
Companyʼs employees, the social situation, and the performance evaluation of vice presidents. The Executive Compensation 
Meeting consists of the representative directors of the board, the director in charge of the Secretariat Offi ce, and outside 
directors and is chaired by the representative director of the board and chairman (the representative director of the board and  
president if the position of representative director of the board and chairman is vacant or an accident has occurred). 

The Executive Compensation Meeting was convened twice in FYE 2018, engaged in discussion of the compensation 
structure, and determined matters such as performance-linked compensation for directors (excluding outside directors) 
and vice presidents in accordance with performance evaluation and the amount of monetary compensation claims in 
respect of restricted stock compensation for each individual recipient.

Annual Report 2018

34

 
 
 
 
Corporate Governance

Policy on Cross-Shareholdings
Regarding major listed stocks held by the Company as cross-shareholdings, the Board of Directors ascertains whether the 
holding of these shares will contribute to management of the Company in the medium to long term, after a comprehensive 
consideration of factors such as medium- to long-term corporate value enhancement, importance to business strategy, and 
business relationships with business partners and an assessment of economic rationality in view of risks and returns. As of 
March 31, 2018, the number of issues of investment securities held for purposes other than pure investment and the total 
amount reported on the balance sheet were 49 issues and 9,371 million yen, respectively.

Number of Issues of Investment Securities Held for Purposes Other than Pure Investment and 
Total Amount Reported on the Balance Sheet

Category

Number of issues
Amount reported on the balance sheet (millions of yen)

FYE 2015
91
39,055

FYE 2016
63
28,764

FYE 2017
62
13,339

FYE 2018
49
9,371

Board of Directorsʼ Meeting Participation Rate (Most Recent Five Years)

Category

Number of meetings held
Attendance rate

FYE 2014
17 times
82.4%

FYE 2015
14 times
100%

FYE 2016
15 times
96.3%

FYE 2017
15 times
96.3%

FYE 2018
17 times
99.0%

*Attendance rates for newly elected directors and corporate offi cers are calculated based on the number of Board of Directorsʼ meetings held after they assumed offi ce.

So that the directors and corporate auditors fully discharge their duties, the Company holds study meetings to continuously 
provide them with information and knowledge related to business activities necessary for management oversight. In 
addition,  to  continuously  provide  the  outside  officers  with  information  about  SUBARUʼs  management  philosophy, 
corporate culture, and business environment, etc., the Company provides business reports from the operating divisions 
and opportunities for plant tours and has prepared an environment that encourages sharing of information and exchange 
of ideas among executives.

Analysis and Evaluation of the Effectiveness of the Board of Directors
In accordance with the Corporate Governance Guidelines, the Companyʼs Board of Directors analyzes and evaluates the 
effectiveness of the Board, then considers and implements measures to improve any issues identifi ed. In FYE 2018, the 
Board confirmed measures to address issues identified in previous evaluations and, in response to the occurrence of 
improprieties relating to fi nal vehicle inspections, performed analysis and evaluation after changing the implementation 
procedure and questionnaire items in the interest of performing a detailed evaluation of the effectiveness of the Board of 
Directorsʼ oversight function. A report on the analysis results follows.

Evaluation and Analysis Methods
Timing of implementation: March 2018
Respondents: All directors and auditors (12 in total, including outside offi cers)
Implementation procedure: Self-evaluation using a questionnaire prepared by a third-party organization
(An anonymous questionnaire format has been adopted beginning in FYE 2018.)
1)  A third-party organization conducted a self-evaluation questionnaire survey of all directors and corporate auditors using 

an anonymous questionnaire.

2) The third-party organization aggregated and analyzed the questionnaire data.
3)  A report received from the third-party organization was verifi ed and discussed by the Board of Directors.
Questionnaire items: 1) Board of Directorsʼ management structure 2) Board of Directorsʼ oversight function 3) Shareholder dialogue

Evaluation Results

  As was the case with the evaluation results up to FYE 2017, it was confi rmed that open and frank discussion is conducted 
from a Company-wide perspective at meetings of the Board of Directors on the basis of the chairpersonʼs leadership and 
mutual understanding among the members.
  There was a consensus on the appropriateness of the size of the Board of Directors and proportion of outside directors, 
directors comprising the Executive Nomination Meeting and Executive Compensation Meeting, and on matters such as 
the appropriateness of sharing of feedback from shareholders and investors was confi rmed.

35

Annual Report 2018

  Further strengthening of the Board of Directorsʼ risk identification and management system and enhancement of 
discussion  of  medium-  to  long-term  business  strategy  were  identified  as  areas  in  which  future  improvement  and 
functional enhancement can be expected.

Future Initiatives

  The Board of Directors confi rmed that it will discuss medium- to long-term management strategy and take action to 
ensure  rigorous  implementation  of  measures  to  prevent  any  reoccurrence  of  improprieties,  focusing  on  further 
strengthening of the risk identifi cation and management system. 
  On April 1, 2018, the Company established the “Tadashii-Kaisha” Promotion Department and the Compliance Offi ce to 
reinforce efforts to address issues the Company faces with respect to legal compliance and corporate culture reforms, 
and the Board of Directors confi rmed that it will carefully watch Group-wide activities spearheaded by these organizations 
and work to restore stakeholder trust.

The Board of Directors will improve Board functions, strengthen corporate governance, and promote continuous 

enhancement of corporate value by continuing to evaluate the effectiveness of the Board of Directors.

Aggregated Questionnaire Responses

Board of Directorsʼ Management Structure

Ⅰ-1)   Board of Directorsʼ 
composition

Board of Directorsʼ Oversight Function and 
Shareholder Dialogue

Ⅱ-1)  Board of Directorsʼ 
supervisory function

4.0

3.0

2.0

1.0

Ⅰ-5)    Board of 
Directorsʼ 
contribution

Ⅰ-2)   Board of 
Directorsʼ 
management

Ⅲ)  Shareholder 
dialogue

4.0

3.03 0
3.0

2.02
2.0

1.01
1.0

Ⅱ-2)  Board of 

Directorsʼ risk 
management 
systems

Ⅰ-4)   Board of Directorsʼ 

Ⅰ-3)   Decision-making 

support structure

process

Ⅱ-4)  Executive 

nomination and 
compensation

Ⅱ-3)  Board of Directorsʼ 

discussion

Questions

Category

Ⅰ.  Board of Directorsʼ management structure

Matters Examined

1)   Board of Directorsʼ 

composition

2)   Board of Directorsʼ 

management

Board of Directorsʼ size

Board of Directorsʼ composition 
(proportion of inside and outside directors)

Board of Directorsʼ composition 
(diversity and specialty)

Frequency, duration, and distribution of meetings

Appropriateness of agenda

Quality and quantity of documents

Timing of document distribution

Pre-meeting explanation

Content of explanations and reports

3)  Decision-making process

Chairʼs leadership

Adequate discussion

4)   Board of Directorsʼ 
support structure

5)   Board of Directorsʼ 

contribution

Environment and systems for providing information

Provision of information to outside directors

Training of outside directors

Training of inside directors

Stance toward initiatives

Diverse values

Company-wide perspective

Mutual respect

Stakeholder perspective

Ⅱ.  Board of Directorsʼ oversight function

1)   Board of Directorsʼ 
supervisory function

2)   Board of Directorsʼ 

risk management systems

3)   Board of Directorsʼ 

discussion

Reporting systems

Supervision of management

Risk management systems

Subsidiary management systems

Information-sharing on risks and 
risk response

Systems for managing progress of 
response measures

Thorough awareness of compliance issues

Discussion of management strategy

Discussion of capital policy

Discussion of cross holdings

Discussion on strengthening governance

Responses to social and environmental issues

4)   Executive nomination and 

compensation

Composition of Executive Nomination Meeting and 
Executive Compensation Meeting

Successor development

Incentive-based compensation

Ⅲ. Shareholder dialogue

Shareholder dialogue

Sharing shareholder and investor views

Enhancement of shareholder and 
investor dialogue

Annual Report 2018

36

 
Corporate Governance

Messages from the Outside Directors

My Role as an Outside Director
I think that the role of outside directors is to actively speak out and participate in 
decisions at Board of Directorsʼ meetings from an outside, independent position 
unconstrained  by  internal  company  logic,  implicit  knowledge,  or  personal 
relationships.  I  base  my  thinking  as  an  outside  director  on  maximization  of  the 
interests  and  value  of  all  SUBARU  stakeholders  (customers,  employees,  partner 
companies, dealers, shareholders and investors, and local communities). Furthermore, 
the  outside  and  inside  directors  are  not  in  an  oppositional  relationship.  Rather, 
although  our  approach  differs  due  to  differences  in  position,  experience,  and 
knowledge, we share the same goal of enhancing SUBARUʼs corporate value and 
aiming for sustained growth.

Thoughts as an Outside Director on what is Necessary to be 
“a Company that does the Right Thing in the Right Way”
I think that SUBARU deserves praise for having rapidly increased sales from the one-
trillion yen to the three-trillion yen level in the short period of the past few years. On 
the other hand, to maintain continuity as a three-trillion yen company, SUBARU must 
not only be able to sustain business performance but also to think and act in a way 
appropriate to its social position. A high level of awareness of safety, the environment, 
compliance, and governance will increasingly be necessary in addition to maximization 
of sales and profi ts. 

I think that as SUBARU aims to achieve further quantitative and qualitative growth 

into the future, it must meet and exceed higher standards of responsibility.

How Discussion and Advice Take Place at 
Board of Directorsʼ Meetings
I am convinced that SUBARUʼs Board of Directors must rank near the top among 
Japan companies in the number of comments by outside directors at Board meetings. 
That SUBARUʼs top management has the fl exibility to listen to outside opinions and 
the strength to heed them is cause for great pride, and I have deep respect for the 
executive team.

It is only natural that SUBARU, a company with an overseas sales ratio exceeding 
85% and a foreign shareholding percentage exceeding 30%, pursues globally high 
standards of value. I hope to engage in more in-depth discussion at Board meetings 
going forward.

What is Required for Sustained Corporate Value Enhancement
From  the  viewpoint  of  all  stakeholders,  including  customers,  the  SUBARU  brand 
consists of trust and confi dence in SUBARU. I think that from SUBARUʼs perspective, 
the brand may consist of a promise from SUBARU to its stakeholders. It is often said 
that although it takes decades to win trust and confi dence, they can be lost overnight. 
For SUBARU to continue to win the trust and confi dence of stakeholders, I think it is 
necessary to draw a sharper distinction between what to preserve and what to change 
in step with changes in the world and business scale expansion. Personally, I think 
what should be preserved is an insatiable spirit of inquiry with respect to advanced 
technology development and the earnestness to face customers sincerely, and what 
should be changed is to undertake a transformation of awareness as a company that 
has grown from one trillion yen to three trillion yen.

In my role as an outside director, I want to contribute to the best of my ability to 
SUBARUʼs evolution to the next operational level together with the inside directors, 
executive offi cers, and employees.

Outside Director

Yoshinori Komamura

37

Annual Report 2018

 
 
 
Outside Director

Shigehiro Aoyama

My Role as an Outside Director
The outside directors are expected to engage in management oversight, provide 
multifaceted advice on improving business performance, and express their views on 
scandal  prevention  and  risk  avoidance.  We  must  also  make  judgments  from  the 
perspective of customers, shareholders, and other external stakeholders and perform 
the role of reforming a corporate culture that has become entrenched in internal 
logic. The recent repeated improprieties indicate the necessity of transforming a 
corporate  culture  that  was  incapable  of  restraining  internal  logic  that  had  been 
repeated over many years. In my role as an outside director, I will strive to ensure that 
such incidents never happen again.

Thoughts as an Outside Director on what is Necessary to be 
“a Company that does the Right Thing in the Right Way”
I  consider  high  quality  to  be  the  key  factor  influencing  the  value  of  SUBARUʼs 
corporate  brand.  However,  there  is  risk  of  confidence  in  quality  leading  to  over-
confidence. Times change, and to continue to create the quality that is SUBARUʼs 
core competence, the Company must constantly refi ne and perfect that quality and 
also add transformation of manufacturing processes. Of particular importance, a 
compliance  perspective  is  essential  in  business  management  today.  Work-style 
innovation isnʼt only a matter of working hours and work-life balance. It also involves 
inculcating ways of working imbued with the spirit of compliance required in this day 
and age. That is a necessary condition for SUBARU to be “a company that does the 
right thing in the right way.”

How Discussion and Advice Take Place at 
Board of Directorsʼ Meetings
Frank discussion takes place. The outside directors are provided many opportunities 
to speak, and the meeting management of the chairman of the Board of Directors is 
excellent.  The  outside  directors  actively  express  their  opinions  to  promote  a 
governance system aligned with current global standards.
  However, I think further effort is required to ensure that our opinions fully mesh 
with those of the directors in charge of business execution. That is to say, since there 
is a tendency for discussion at SUBARU to disproportionately emphasize individual 
optimization, I would like discussion to extend to total optimization of business.

What is Required for Sustained Corporate Value Enhancement
For corporations today, there can be no growth without consideration of sustained 
value enhancement. Although enhancement of fi nancial value is essential, companies 
must also consider non-fi nancial value from an environmental, social and governance 
(ESG) perspective. SUBARU must implement environmental measures including a 
response to emissions regulations, must respond to social needs such as automobile 
safety and security, and, in the area of governance, must develop an organizational 
structure to implement these initiatives. This will contribute to enhancing the value of 
the SUBARU brand. A sense of urgency and alacrity is necessary for accomplishing 
this, and I hope to see a higher level of innovation from a management structure 
capable of pursuing sustained growth for SUBARU.

Annual Report 2018

38

CSR in the SUBARU Group

CSR

The SUBARU Group contributes to society through 
our businesses and engages in CSR activities to 
help create a sustainable society.

Corporate Philosophy
1.   We strive to create advanced technology on an ongoing basis and provide consumers with distinctive products with the 

highest level of quality and customer satisfaction.

2.   We aim to continuously promote harmony between people, society, and the environment while contributing to the 

prosperity of society.

3.  We look to the future with a global perspective and aim to foster a vibrant, progressive company.

Corporate Code of Conduct
SUBARU CORPORATION sets down the Corporate Code of Conduct to comply with laws and regulations and to fulfi ll its 
social responsibilities based on its corporate philosophy. We will continue to strive to become a company loved by all and 
contribute to making society more affl uent by respecting individuals and the Corporate Code of Conduct and acting on 
the same sense of values.
1.  We develop and provide creative products and services while paying suffi cient attention to the environment and safety.
2.  We respect the rights and characteristics of individuals.
3.  We promote harmony with society and contribute to the prosperity of society.
4.  We meet social norms and act honestly and fairly.
5.  We maintain global perspective and aim to be in harmony with international society.

Management Philosophy
Aiming to be a compelling company with a strong market presence built upon its customer-fi rst principle.

CSR Policy (Revised in June 2009)
1.   We respect the laws and regulations, human rights, international standards of behavior and the rights and morals of 

stakeholders under the Corporate Code of Conduct of SUBARU CORPORATION.

2.  We become involved as a corporate citizen in addressing social issues facing society today.

CSR Promotion System
SUBARU has set up the CSR Committee as a forum for discussing CSR initiatives. The Committee confi rms the status of the 
PDCA cycle of each specialized committee and department.

The CSR Committee, which is chaired by SUBARUʼs director of the board and chairman and includes all executives as 

members, will consider and discuss the social aspects of SUBARUʼs businesses and work to strengthen CSR initiatives.

Board of Directors

Executive Management Board Meeting

CSR Committee

Specialized committees          Departments          Affi liated companies

Secretariat Offi ce: 
CSR & Environment Department

39

Annual Report 2018

 
Our Approach to CSR
Challenges for society abound in Japan and overseas, such as global warming, human rights issues, and an aging and 
declining population, and there are rising expectations that corporations will help resolve them. The SUBARU Groupʼs 
business domain also requires initiatives on diverse themes such as reducing environmental impact, preventing traffic 
accidents, and alleviating traffi c congestion. 

Therefore,  naturally  we  develop,  manufacture,  and  sell  products  with  outstanding  safety  and  environmental 
performance and quality, but as a corporate citizen we also work on CSR activities to meet the needs of society and 
address social challenges in good faith. The automotive industry has entered a once-in-a-century transition period, and the 
social environment is constantly changing. SUBARU considers it necessary to promote and ensure the penetration of CSR 
initiatives on a group-wide, global scale to contribute to society through our businesses and meet stakeholder expectations 
and demands. To that end, we have reviewed the Eight CSR Action Items and newly defi ned Six Priority Areas for CSR. 

By applying the thought process behind the Six Priority Areas for CSR to how we conduct business, we will fulfi ll our 
social responsibilities as a corporation and continue to provide “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” to our customers and other 
stakeholders. In so doing, the SUBARU Group will become a corporate group trusted by society and contribute to the 
creation of a more affl uent, sustainable society as a truly global company.

Six Priority Areas for CSR
In conjunction with STEP, the new mid-term management vision, the SUBARU Group has reviewed the previous Eight CSR 
Action Items and newly selected Six Priority Areas for CSR: people-oriented car culture, resonance and coexistence, peace 
of mind, diversity, environment, and compliance.

In selecting the priority areas, we fi rst identifi ed forty-one societal requirements and expectations as CSR priority items 
and conducted a questionnaire survey of experts and investors in North America and Japan. Finally, we considered CSR 
from two perspectives: areas for contributing to society by taking advantage of business strengths, and areas for meeting 
the expectations of society. As a result, we selected people-oriented car culture, resonance and coexistence, peace of 
mind, and diversity as areas for contributing to society by taking advantage of business strengths. Although peace of mind 
and diversity overlap, we selected peace of mind because it is an area in which the requirements of society and the 
SUBARU Groupʼs business strengths coincide and selected diversity because we broadly defi ne it as including not only the 
diversity required by society but also diversity in the products we provide to our customers.

Since information disclosure and dialogue with stakeholders and refl ection of stakeholder feedback in management are 
essential for recovering trust, we will implement what we call “6M+1E” initiatives: the six priority areas (“6M,” with “M” 
standing  for  materiality)  plus  information  disclosure  and  dialogue  with  stakeholders  and  reflection  of  feedback  in 
management (“1E,” with “E” standing for engagement).

Annual Report 2018

40

 
 
 
 
CSR in the SUBARU Group

Application of the Six Priority Areas for CSR in Management

SUBARU

The SUBARU Group

Board of Directors

Executive 
Management 
Board Meeting

Application in 
management

Information 
disclosure and 
dialogues

Stakeholders

6 Priority Areas for CSR

o
t

i

c
fi 
c
e
p
s

s
e
i
t
i
r
o
i
r
P

U
R
A
B
U
S

s
ʼ
y
t
e
c
o
S

i

s
n
o
i
t
a
t
c
e
p
x
e

People-oriented 
Car Culture

Resonance and 
Coexistence

Peace of Mind

Diversity

Environment

Compliance

Our Six Priority Areas for CSR and Basic Approach

People-oriented Car Culture

SUBARU believes that cars are more than a mere means of transportation. SUBARU places importance 
on how people feel “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind,” delivers high-added-value products and services to 
customers as a partner that enriches peopleʼs hearts and lives, and fosters a sustainable mobility culture.

Resonance and Coexistence

SUBARU  will  become  a  company  that  is  trusted  by,  resonates  with,  and  coexists  with  people  by 
expanding personal communication and sincerely listening to the views and opinions of each customer 
and society as a whole.

Peace of Mind

SUBARU will become a company that allows all stakeholders to feel ultimate peace of mind.

Diversity

Environment

Compliance

The SUBARU Group promotes diversity, which we defi ne as providing products that refl ect respect for 
diverse market value and respecting and reflecting the diverse values of everyone who works in the 
SUBARU Group.

“The  earth,  the  sky  and  nature”  form  our  fields  of  business.  In  order  to  bequeath  these  to  future 
generations, SUBARU will consider its effect on the environment across the entire spectrum of corporate 
activities.

SUBARU will become a company where business operations conform to laws, regulations, and social 
norms  and  where  a  mindset  of  respecting  and  prioritizing  compliance  permeates  everything  and 
everyone in the SUBARU Group.

SDGs Initiatives
The SUBARU Group recognizes the importance of responding to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which are 
aimed at achieving a more sustainable future by 2030. To respond to climate change, we aim to reduce the SUBARU 
Groupʼs direct CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and 2) to 30% below FYE 2017 levels (on a total emissions volume basis) by FYE 
2031. To reduce traffi c accident fatalities and injuries, we have set a target of eliminating fatal accidents involving SUBARU 
vehicles* by 2030. Through these initiatives, we are contributing to the creation of a sustainable society.

* Elimination of accidents resulting in the death of drivers or passengers in SUBARU vehicles and accidents resulting in the death of pedestrians, cyclists, or other 
persons due to collision with SUBARU vehicles

41

Annual Report 2018

 
 
 
 
Environment

SUBARU Environmental Policies

SUBARU Sustainability Principles
“The earth, the sky and nature” are SUBARUʼs fi elds of business.
With the automotive and aerospace businesses as the pillars of SUBARUʼs operations, our fi elds of business are the earth, 
the sky and nature. Preservation of the ecosystem of our planet, the earth, the sky and nature, is of utmost importance to 
ensure the future sustainability of both society and our organization. We align our business strategy to enhance these 
global goals in all of our operations.

1.   We develop and deliver products to meet societal needs and contribute to the environment through advanced technologies.
 By striving to create advanced technologies that put the environment and safety fi rst, we will develop and deliver products that 
can contribute to protecting the earthʼs environment.

2.  We focus on efforts aimed at coexistence with nature.

 Together with efforts to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions in all of our operations, we will promote active engagement with nature 
by stressing forest conservation.

3.  We take on challenges as one through an all-SUBARU approach.

 Utilizing our unique organizational character that allows us to oversee the entire supply chain, all of us together will take on the 
challenges of environmental protection of our planet through an all-SUBARU approach.

Environmental Principles
SUBARUʼs fi elds of business are the earth, the sky and nature. SUBARU understands that the health and preservation of 
biodiversity and controlling climate change are critical to ensuring a sustainable future for our planet earth, nature, 
communities and businesses.

Products: We develop our products and conduct R&D in light of the lifecycle environmental impacts of our products.
Purchasing: Our purchasing activities refl ect consideration for biodiversity and other aspects of environmental protection.
Production: We strive to minimize our environmental impact through improving energy effi ciency and waste management.
Logistics: We strive to minimize our environmental impact through enhancing energy effi ciency and promoting pollution prevention.
Sales: We endeavor to recycle resources effi ciently and reduce waste.
Management:  We will strive to improve our sustainability program through contributions that meet societal needs and by 

publicizing our activities as Team SUBARU.

[Established: April 1998, Revised: April 2017]

Aiming for Signifi cant Reduction in CO2 Emissions
SUBARU has set a new target of reducing the SUBARU Groupʼs direct CO2 emissions (Scope 1 and 2) to 30% below FYE 
2017 levels (on a total emissions volume basis) by FYE 2031. We have also begun formulating an Environmental Action 
Plan.  The  opening  initiative  under  the  plan  is  partial  adoption  (approximately  11,500  MWh/year)  at  the  Aerospace 
Companyʼs Utsunomiya Plant of the “Tochigi Furusato Denki Program,” Japanʼs first program for locally produced and 
consumed CO2-free electricity, with the aim of achieving emissions reduction of approximately 5,400 t-CO2. Furthermore, 
we plan to expand introduction of renewable energy facilities.

Environmental Action Plan Roadmap

(FYE)

2019

2021

Phase Ⅲ: Challenge
Consideration and implementation of all available means of reducing 
CO2 from a group-wide perspective, taking into consideration external 
factors such as technological innovation, markets, and regulations

Phase Ⅰ: Preparation
• Formulation of the next Environmental Action Plan
•  Implementation of voluntary CO2 reductions ahead of schedule 

while continuing the current plan (The Sixth Voluntary Plan)

2026

Phase Ⅱ: Approach
In anticipation of a CO2 increase accompanying an increase in production 
activities, active introduction of renewable energy and CO2-free power 
sources in addition to advancing energy conservation

Target

30% reduction

in direct CO2 emissions 
(Scope 1 and 2)

from the 
FYE 2017 level

2031

Annual Report 2018

42

 
 
 
CSR in the SUBARU Group

Message from the General Manager of the Human Resources Department

Senior Vice President
General Manager, 
Human Resources Department

Hiromi Tsutsumi

Making the most of human resources

Profi le of the Ideal SUBARU Employee
I consider the role of the general manager of the Human Resources Department to be to design policies 
and programs for making the most of human resources and to make continuous improvements to these 
policies and programs while confi rming their status of operation, industry trends, and other matters. The 
following is a profi le of the ideal SUBARU employee.

   Always a challenger and an explorer 
   One who tenaciously strives to achieve objectives
   One who thinks through to address challenges
   One who thinks of others

When the Company name was changed to SUBARU CORPORATION in April 2017, after careful consideration 
we selected these expressions to indicate what we consider important and what we will continue to consider 
important in SUBARU employees. We believe that cultivation of human resources that emphasizes these four 
items will become the foundation for gaining the trust of customers and enhancing SUBARUʼs corporate value.

Human Resources Development
The basis of human resources development at SUBARU is on-the-job training, and we are developing an 
education and training system with a curriculum adapted to employee rank and fi eld of specialization. Priority 
areas targeted for further reinforcement are 1) thoroughly train employees while they are young, 2) cultivate 
specialists who will open the way to the future, and 3) nurture many strong leaders. These are essential areas 
targeted for reinforcement to ensure that SUBARU continues to provide added value to customers during a 
period of transformation for the automotive industry. For example, we are planning and implementing 
education programs adapted to the individual characteristics of employees and management training 
enhancements. Also, the introduction of multifaceted assessment of managers, employee surveys, and stress 
checks in recent years has enabled us to identify HR management issues in the workplace, and we are 
reinforcing linkage of the results obtained from these measures to solutions on the basis of data analysis.

43

Annual Report 2018

Advancing Diversity Activities
SUBARU has made implementing “Change the Culture” corporate culture reforms a key priority in the STEP 
mid-term management vision. We have designated increasing diversity as a priority area of CSR activities for 
achieving these reforms and aim to make SUBARU a company capable of contributing to diverse values, 
both inside and outside the Company.

For the products and services that SUBARU provides to be accepted by people with wide-ranging 
values, with  “Enjoyment and Peace of Mind” as the cornerstone of the value proposition, SUBARU must 
realize diversity in the organizations and human resources that create value. In that sense, diversity is the 
foundation  of  organizational  vitalization.  Our  employees  have  diverse  personalities,  and  to  enable  all 
employees to demonstrate their individual capabilities to the utmost, SUBARU values differences in gender, 
nationality, culture, and lifestyles and strives to create workplace environments in which everyone fi nds it 
easy to work. Our vision of diversity is “a profusion of fl owers all abloom.”

The Diversity Promotion Office, established in January 2015, engages in activities under four priority 
themes: 1) promoting active roles for female employees, 2) employing people with disabilities, 3) planning 
and promoting employment of non-Japanese nationals, and 4) promoting employment of the elderly. We 
are currently placing particular emphasis on efforts to promote active roles for female employees.
  Although the automotive industry is a male-centered world and most of the technicians and line workers 
at automakers are men, more than a few buyers and drivers are women. To be accepted by greater numbers 
of customers, SUBARU needs products and services that incorporate a womanʼs perspective. However, as at 
other automakers, men make up an overwhelmingly large proportion of SUBARUʼs workforce, and we must 
increase opportunities for women to play active roles.

Two challenges in promoting active roles for female employees are retention and effective utilization of 
employees. To retain female employees, we have programs such as a fl exible working hours system for the 
purpose of helping employees balance work and parenting. In efforts to effectively utilize female employees, 
with the objective of increasing the number of female managers, we have introduced an initiative to increase 
the number of managers skilled at cultivating female subordinates and instituted a mentor system for female 
manager candidates. Through such initiatives, we aim to create an environment in which women can work 
with vitality and motivation and produce results.

Promoting Work-Life Balance
Balancing work time and free time and leading a fulfi lling private life has the added benefi t of creating a 
virtuous  cycle  at  work.  As  a  concrete  initiative  to  support  work-life  balance,  SUBARU  is  creating  an 
environment that will help employees control their own working hours and curb long working hours by 
bolstering the no-overtime day system and increasing the fl exibility of the fl ex-time system.

TOPICS

Initiatives to Promote Active Roles for Women

SUBARU has formulated an employer action plan aimed at promoting active roles for women in 
accordance with the Act on Promotion of Womenʼs Participation and Advancement in the Workplace. 
In our action plan, which is based on the SUBARU policy of promotion through merit, based on 
demonstrated ability, we set a goal of increasing the number of female managers in 2020 by at least 
fi ve times the number in 2014 (from four to twenty), and we are working to achieve this goal. We will 
expand  the  pool  of  female  candidates  for  executive  officer,  department  general  manager,  and 
section manager as we approach 2020 and move beyond it.

Annual Report 2018

44

 
 
 
CSR in the SUBARU Group

Compliance

Basic Approach and Policy
In view of the causes and background of the occurrence of improprieties relating to final vehicle inspection work at 
SUBARU  discovered  in  FYE  2018,  SUBARU  considers  the  practice  of  compliance  the  most  important  management 
priority for SUBARUʼs rebirth as “a company that does the right thing in the right way.” We are keenly aware that rigorous 
group-wide compliance forms the foundation for the Groupʼs management, and we will instill in each employee not only 
compliance with all laws, ordinances, and internal regulations required in business activities, but also rigorous pursuit of 
open and fair business activities that conform to the ethical principles, common practices, and norms of society at large. 
From there, we will strive to recover the trust of SUBARUʼs customers and other concerned parties and stakeholders.

Corporate Code of Conduct and Conduct Guidelines
SUBARU  has  established  the  Corporate  Code  of  Conduct  (see  page  39)  and  Conduct  Guidelines  as  compliance 
standards  for  the  practice  of  compliance-oriented  corporate  activities.  In  FYE  2018,  we  revised  the  content  of  the 
Conduct  Guidelines  to  further  promote  Group  compliance.  We  explain  the  Code  and  Guidelines  in  detail  in  the 
Compliance Manual, which is carried by all employees of SUBARU and Group companies in Japan and overseas, and 
strive to ensure compliance in their day-to-day actions.


The Corporate Code of Conduct stipulates the basic policies that all offi cers and employees should follow in relation to 
customers, business partners, shareholders, local communities, and other stakeholders in accordance with SUBARUʼs 
corporate philosophy (see page 39).


The  Conduct  Guidelines  stipulate  specific  standards  of  conduct  to  ensure  that  all  officers  and  employees  put  into 
practice the basic policies indicated in the Corporate Code of Conduct (see page 39) in the course of their daily business 
activities.

Compliance Regulations
SUBARU instituted the Compliance Regulations in 2001 with the approval of the Board of Directors as basic regulations 
that  stipulate  the  system,  organization,  and  methods  of  operation  related  to  compliance.  In  FYE  2018,  following 
discussion by the Compliance Committee and with the approval of the Board of Directors, we revised the regulations by 
ascertaining and reviewing the status of operation of the regulations since their institution, confi rming discrepancies 
between the regulations and the actual situation, and refl ecting the results in the revisions.

Compliance System, Organization, and Operation
SUBARU established the Compliance Committee as a group-wide committee to promote compliance. The Committee 
deliberates,  discusses,  decides,  and  exchanges  information  on  important  compliance  matters.  Each  department 
institutes its own compliance action plan (compliance program) to promote compliance and engages in continuous and 
systematic autonomous activities. Following the discovery of improprieties relating to fi nal vehicle inspection work at 
SUBARU, in FYE 2019 Director of the Board and Chairman Yasuyuki Yoshinaga (Representative Director of the Board and 
President  until  June  22)  became  chairman  of  the  Compliance  Committee,  which  is  fundamentally  reviewing  and 
implementing compliance-related initiatives.


Following  the  improprieties  relating  to  final  vehicle  inspection  work  at  SUBARU,  in  FYE  2019  we  established  the 
Compliance Offi ce as an independent organization to strengthen group-wide compliance-oriented initiatives with the aim 
of preventing any repetition of similar mistakes. The Compliance Offi ce, as the Compliance Committeeʼs secretarial offi ce, 
mainly engages in the following work as a hands-on organization for compliance promotion in the SUBARU Group.

 Planning, devising, and implementing compliance promotion activities for the entire SUBARU Group
  Conducting compliance training, education, and internal awareness activities and operating the SUBARU Groupʼs 
internal reporting system (Compliance Hotline), which is foundational to an open and transparent workplace

45

Annual Report 2018

Compliance Hotline System
In addition to seeking solutions through their superiors, regular and temporary employees who work at SUBARU and 
Group companies have the option of using the Compliance Hotline to seek consultation about any compliance-related 
problems they have discovered within the Group. 

The Hotline Desk has been set up within the Company, and employees assigned to the Hotline Desk in accordance 
with internal rules directly accept reports by post, telephone, and e-mail, engage in fact-finding investigations, and 
respond to reports. The names and departments of persons making reports are kept strictly confi dential and are not 
disclosed without their consent, and due consideration is given to ensuring that they suffer no disadvantage due to the 
consultation. Since April 2008, we have added an external specialist organization as a point of contact and worked to 
make the system easier to use by extending its hours and reinforcing the mechanisms that ensure the confi dentiality of 
the  names  and  departments  of  persons  seeking  consultation.  The  Compliance  Hotline  received  163  consultation 
requests in FYE 2018, and the general manager of the Legal Department played a central role in expeditiously solving 
problems following fact-fi nding investigations (following a change of the organization responsible for the system in FYE 
2019, this responsibility now falls to the general manager of the Compliance Offi ce). Matters reported to the Compliance 
Hotline are reported to management or the Compliance Committee as necessary, and measures are taken to prevent 
any reoccurrence of problems.

To publicize the Compliance Hotline System, we have distributed cards that provide information on how the hotline 
system works and contact details to employees of SUBARU and Group companies and put up posters in workplaces. We 
have included an explanation of the service provided by the external specialist in the posters and posted it on the 
Company intranet.

Compliance Activity Achievements


In  the  belief  that  the  entire  SUBARU  Group  must  work  in  harmony  to  achieve  rigorous  compliance,  we  provide 
compliance training and practical legal training to the employees of all Group companies. This training is organized by 
the Legal Department, Compliance Offi ce (established in April 2018), and the human resource and education sections. 
Each department and Group company incorporates its own education program into its action program (compliance 
program) and complements this training by holding study meetings on important work-related laws and ordinances as 
well as holding compliance awareness training conducted by SUBARU Legal Department employees and others. In FYE 
2018, some 4,500 persons participated in training organized or supported by the Legal Department. 
  We prepare and provide various support tools to promote the day-to-day practice of compliance, including tools 
specifically  intended  for  Group  companies  and  SUBARU  distributors  in  Japan.  In  addition,  we  distribute  urgent 
information  on  a  timely  basis  in  our 
Compliance  Information  and  work  to 
raise compliance awareness group-wide. 
In FYE 2019, we are providing Normative 
Consciousness Enhancement Education 
f o r   S U B A R U   a n d   G r o u p   c o m p a n y 
managers  and  sharing  information  on 
the  causes  and  background  of  the 
occurrence  of  improprieties  relating  to 
fi nal vehicle inspection work at SUBARU 
a n d   p ro m o t i n g   m e a s u re s   i n   e a c h 
department to prevent the occurrence of 
similar  improprieties.  Also,  we  are 
redeveloping  work  regulations  group-
wide  and  plan  to  expand  the  scope  of 
persons who receive compliance training 
and  continuously  provide  compliance 
education.  We  will  also  distribute  an 
essential  edition  of  the  Compliance 
Manual to all employees.

System of Compliance

Annual Report 2018

46

 
 
Consolidated Ten-Year Financial Summary
SUBARU Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries
Years ended March 31

Operating results (for the year)

Net sales
Cost of sales
Gross profi t
Selling, general and 
  administrative expenses
Operating income (loss)
Income (loss) before income taxes
Net income (loss) attributable to 
  owners of parent
Depreciation/amortization
Capital expenditures2
R&D expenses

Financial position (at year-end)

Net assets
Shareholdersʼ equity
Total assets
Ratio of shareholdersʼ equity to 
  total assets

Cash fl ows

Net cash provided by (used in) 
  operating activities
Net cash provided by (used in) 
  investing activities
Free cash fl ow
Net cash provided by (used in) 
  fi nancing activities

Per share

Net income (loss) (EPS)
Net assets (BPS)
Dividends

Other information

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

ʼ09/3

ʼ10/3

ʼ11/3

ʼ12/3

¥1,445,790
1,164,564
281,226

¥1,428,690
1,152,763
275,927

¥1,580,563
1,241,427
339,136

¥1,517,105
1,222,419
294,686

287,029

248,577

255,001

250,727

(5,803)
(21,517)

27,350
(443)

Millions of yen

(69,933)

(16,450)

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

74,036
95,153
42,831

65,785
89,077
37,175

84,135
63,214

50,326

56,062
67,378
42,907

43,959
52,879

38,453

58,611
67,035
48,115

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

Millions of yen

394,719
393,946
1,165,431

381,893
380,587
1,231,367

413,963
412,661
1,188,324

451,607
450,302
1,352,532

%

33.8

30.9

34.7

33.3

Millions of yen

(26,892)

176,734

138,208

54,865

Millions of yen

(72,385)

(62,656)

(51,109)

(26,602)

Millions of yen

(99,277)

114,078

87,099

Millions of yen

80,449

(18,560)

(39,408)

Yen

Yen

Yen

(91.97)
505.59
4.5

(21.11)
488.58
0

Non-consolidated exchange rate
Number of shares issued
Number of shareholders3
Number of employees (parent only)
Number of employees 
  (consolidated)

Yen to the U.S. dollar

Thousands of shares

Persons

Persons

Persons

Number of units

Consolidated automobile unit sales4
SUBARU vehicle unit production

Domestic
U.S.A. (SIA)5

Thousand units

Thousand units

Thousand units

Thousand units

102
782,865
40,839
12,137

27,659

555
566
474
92

93
782,865
39,223
12,483

27,586

563
557
453
104

28,263

2,586

49.27
576.97
9

79
782,865
33,139
12,359

27,123

640
635
465
171

64.56
528.88
9

86
782,865
34,240
12,429

27,296

657
624
459
165

1.  U.S. dollar fi gures have been translated from yen, for convenience only, at the rate of ¥106.27 to US$1.00, the approximate rate of exchange at March 31, 2018.
2.  Increase in property, plant and equipment and intangible assets
3.  Number of shares per trading unit: 100 shares
4.  Automobile unit sales of SUBARU CORPORATION and its consolidated subsidiaries
5.  U.S. production base Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.

47

Annual Report 2018

ʼ13/3

ʼ14/3

ʼ15/3

ʼ16/3

ʼ17/3

ʼ18/3

ʼ18/3

(Thousands of U.S. dollars)1

¥1,912,968
1,501,809
411,159

¥2,408,129
1,728,271
679,858

¥2,877,913
2,017,490
860,423

¥3,232,258
2,187,136
1,045,122

¥3,325,992
2,386,266
939,726

¥3,405,221
2,442,706
962,515

$32,043,107
22,985,847
9,057,260

290,748

120,411
93,082

119,588

61,544
94,986
49,141

353,369

326,489
328,865

206,616

61,486
98,537
60,092

437,378

423,045
392,206

261,873

71,821
135,346
83,535

479,533

565,589
619,003

436,654

72,938
168,338
102,373

528,916

410,810
394,695

282,354

85,653
196,616
114,215

583,068

379,447
297,340

220,354

102,102
193,789
121,084

5,486,666

3,570,594
2,797,967

2,073,530

960,779
1,823,553
1,139,400

596,813
595,365
1,577,454

770,071
765,544
1,888,363

1,030,719
1,022,417
2,199,714

1,349,411
1,343,732
2,592,410

1,464,888
1,458,664
2,762,321

1,561,023
1,552,844
2,884,313

14,689,216
14,612,252
27,141,366

37.7

40.5

46.5

51.8

52.8

53.8

̶

166,715

313,024

311,543

614,256

345,442

366,298

3,446,862

(71,370)

(33,903)

(172,780)

(255,676)

(254,252) (150,711)

(1,418,190)

95,345

279,121

138,763

358,580

91,190

215,587

2,028,672

(60,766)

(63,011)

(110,546)

(126,190)

(189,044) (170,937)

(1,608,516)

153.23
762.87
15

82
782,865
28,890
12,717

27,509

724
692
511
181

264.76
980.98
53

100
782,865
51,386
13,034

28,545

825
772
609
164

335.57
1,310.15
68

559.54
1,721.90
144

365.77
1,902.56
144

287.40
2,025.31
144

(U.S. dollars)

2.70
19.06
1.36

108
782,865
70,942
13,883

29,774

911
887
681
207

121
782,865
79,594
14,234

31,151

958
929
693
236

108
769,175
76,471
14,708

32,599

1,065
1,033
698
335

111
769,175
132,570
14,879

33,544

1,067
1,036
687
349

̶

̶

̶

̶

̶

̶

̶

̶

̶

Annual Report 2018

48

Five-Year Unit Sales
Years ended March 31

Consolidated Automobile Sales

Domestic units

Legacy
Impreza
Forester
Levorg
WRX
Exiga
SUBARU BRZ
OEM
Others

Passenger cars
Minicars
Domestic total

Overseas units by region

U.S.
Canada
Russia
Europe
Australia
China
Others

Overseas total

Overseas units by model

Legacy
Impreza
Forester
Levorg
WRX
Tribeca
SUBARU BRZ
OEM
Others

Overseas total

Grand total

ʼ14/3

ʼ15/3

ʼ16/3

ʼ17/3

ʼ18/3

(Number of units)

18,961
61,071
36,572
0
0
3,853
3,380
1,857
453
126,147
55,454
181,601

441,799
36,013
15,314
31,756
39,515
44,807
34,293
643,497

182,712
210,828
231,173
0
0
2,561
15,822
256
145
643,497

13,845
39,462
21,103
40,559
7,514
1,937
1,890
1,127
439
127,876
34,876
162,752

527,630
42,439
11,559
35,730
38,889
53,821
37,875
747,943

235,791
196,403
269,649
0
37,982
64
7,914
135
5
747,943

11,358
39,794
22,044
23,555
6,956
4,498
1,995
884
502
111,586
33,702
145,288

582,674
47,579
5,723
41,778
44,611
44,388
45,824
812,577

286,979
217,272
250,072
7,713
43,120
34
7,387
0
0
812,577

11,065
51,592
24,239
23,775
6,552
4,284
2,253
2,066
567
126,393
32,542
158,935

667,613
53,061
5,338
40,915
49,106
44,000
45,574
905,607

333,339
238,858
272,768
6,823
47,185
7
6,627
0
0
905,607

9,328
66,748
18,139
21,342
8,252
3,498
1,879
2,889
480
132,555
30,889
163,444

670,931
56,820
7,729
40,228
55,674
26,872
45,231
903,485

281,846
306,673
260,853
3,913
42,739
1
7,460
0
0
903,485

825,098

910,695

957,865

1,064,542

1,066,929

*Automobile sales of SUBARU CORPORATION and its consolidated subsidiaries

Consolidated Automobile Sales by Region

Consolidated Automobile Sales by Model

Japan
Europe

United States
Australia

Canada
China

Russia
Others

958

911

825

(Thousand units)
1,200

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

Legacy
WRX
OEM

Impreza
Tribeca
Others

Forester
Exiga
Minicars

Levorg
SUBARU BRZ

(Thousand units)
1,200

1,065

1,067

1,065

1,067

958

911

825

1,000

800

600

400

200

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

*Automobile sales of SUBARU CORPORATION and its consolidated subsidiaries

*Automobile sales of SUBARU CORPORATION and its consolidated subsidiaries

49

Annual Report 2018

Non-Consolidated Automobile Sales

(Number of units)

ʼ14/3

ʼ15/3

ʼ16/3

ʼ17/3

ʼ18/3

Domestic units

Legacy
Impreza
Forester
Levorg
WRX
Exiga
SUBARU BRZ
OEM

Passenger cars
Minicars
Domestic total

Export units

Legacy
Impreza
Forester
Levorg
WRX
Exiga
SUBARU BRZ
OEM
Export total

Complete knockdown (CKD) overseas

Total

Grand total

19,272
62,519
37,124
0
0
3,869
3,334
1,944
128,062
57,779
185,841

22,817
206,022
247,362
0
7,644
145
15,118
86
499,194

165,554

850,589

U.S. retail sales (Calendar year: January to December)

Legacy
Impreza
Forester
WRX
Tribeca
SUBARU BRZ

U.S. total

ʼ13
160,340
130,567
123,591
0
1,598
8,587
424,683

14,734
40,277
21,569
41,832
7,991
2,016
1,941
1,224
131,584
35,563
167,147

34,344
199,770
265,072
0
37,865
5
8,418
135
545,609

222,513

935,269

ʼ14
191,060
128,952
159,953
25,492
732
7,504
513,693

11,665
41,137
22,631
24,014
7,181
4,797
2,070
904
114,399
35,642
150,041

50,353
218,866
249,202
7,880
43,177
0
7,005
0
576,483

242,424

968,948

ʼ15
212,741
155,712
175,192
33,734
0
5,296
582,675

11,529
53,136
24,231
24,626
6,724
4,356
2,394
2,575
129,571
34,124
163,695

39,719
191,873
278,963
6,805
46,730
0
6,653
0
570,743

9,753
68,937
19,000
22,525
8,284
3,833
1,999
2,862
137,193
31,717
168,910

32,122
214,631
254,397
3,813
44,053
0
7,451
0
556,467

353,770

348,144

1,088,208

1,073,521

(Number of units)

ʼ16
248,204
150,915
178,593
33,279
0
4,141
615,132

ʼ17
238,723
196,181
177,563
31,358
0
4,131
647,956

Non-Consolidated Domestic Automobile Sales by Model

Non-Consolidated Automobile Export Units by Model

Legacy
Exiga

Impreza
SUBARU BRZ

Forester
OEM

Levorg
Minicars

WRX

Legacy
WRX

Impreza
Exiga

Forester
SUBARU BRZ

Levorg
OEM

167

164

169

150

(Thousand units)
200

186

150

100

50

0

(Thousand units)
600

500

400

300

200

100

0

546

576

571

556

499

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

Annual Report 2018

50

Financial Review

Business Segments and Scope of Consolidation
The SUBARU Group (“the Group”) consists of three business segments: the core Automotive Business Unit, which accounts 
for approximately 95% of consolidated net sales; the Aerospace Company; and Other Businesses, consisting of businesses 
that do not belong to either of the other two segments. In the fi scal year ended March 31, 2018 (April 1, 2017 to March 31, 
2018; the  “fiscal year under review”), SUBARU CORPORATION (“the Company”), 75 subsidiaries, and 8 equity-method 
affi liated companies were included in the scope of consolidation.

Overview of Business Performance
As the employment and income environment improved supported by various policies, the Japanese economy continued 
on a gradual recovery path in the fi scal year under review., Although the economic development in China and other Asian 
emerging markets, the impact from political uncertainties, and trends in the fi nancial and capital markets were of note, the 
global economy, especially the United States, steadily recovered.  Given this backdrop, the exchange rate was mostly 
stable, with the yen against the U.S. dollar getting slightly stronger in the fourth quarter.

The North American market, our key market, continued to drive global sales, and we had steady results over the fi scal 
year under review, including the achievement of record-high automobile unit sales. Consolidated net sales increased by 
79.2 billion yen (2.4%) from the previous fi scal year to a record 3,405.2 billion yen, owing to net sales pushed up by the 
favorable foreign exchange rates and higher automobile unit sales. Consolidated operating income decreased by 31.4 
billion yen (7.6%) year on year to 379.4 billion yen, due to the increase in selling expenses associated with rising interest 
rates in the U.S., the effect of raw materials market, and higher R&D expenses, despite the positive effect from the foreign 
exchange rates. Net income attributable to owners of parent decreased by 62.0 billion yen (22.0%) year on year to 220.4 
billion yen partly owing to airbag related extraordinary loss of 81.3 billion yen.

Net Sales

(Billions of yen)

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

3,232.3 3,326.0 3,405.2

2,877.9

2,408.1

Operating Income/
Net Income Attributable to Owners of Parent

Operating income

Net income attributable to owners of parent

(Billions of yen)

565.6

423.0

436.7

410.8

379.4

326.5

261.9

206.6

282.4

220.4

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

Analysis of Increase and Decrease in Operating Income Changes (Consolidated) 
 (Billions of yen)

Sales volume 
& mixture 
and others
137.7

Cost 
reduction
32.2

565.6

Gain on
currency
exchange
32.7

410.8

-169.1
SG&A
expenses and
others

-143.8
Loss on
currency
exchange

-11.8
R&D
expenses

379.4

-44.2
SG&A
expenses
and others

-7.7
Cost
reduction

-6.9
R&D
expenses

-5.3
Sales
volume &
mixture and
others

’16/3 
Operating income

-154.8 billion yen

’17/3
Operating income

-31.4 billion yen

’18/3
Operating income

51

Annual Report 2018

 
Segment Information
Automotive Business Unit
Net  sales  from  the  Automotive  Business  Unit  were  3,234.9  billion  yen,  up  by  82.9  billion  yen  (2.6%),  and  segment 
income was 361.5 billion yen, down by 36.2 billion yen (9.1%), compared with the previous fi scal year. Consolidated 
global unit sales reached a record high for the sixth consecutive year, increasing by 2,000 vehicles (0.2%) year on year to 
1,067,000 units.

Total automobile demand in Japan, in the fi scal year under review, increased 2.3% year on year to 5,197,000 units due to 
factors including continued steady sales of passenger cars and increased minicar sales compared with the previous fi scal year.

The Groupʼs unit sales in Japan increased by 5,000 units (2.8%) year on year to 163,000 units. Although minicar unit 
sales reached no further than 31,000 units, down by 2,000 units (5.1%) from the previous fi scal year, passenger car sales 
remained strong, led mainly by the all-new SUBARU XV, resulting in a sales increase of 6,000 units (4.9%) to 133,000 units.

The total automobile demand in the United States, which is our key market, was 17,308,000 units, a 1.0% decrease year on 
year, shifting further from passenger vehicles to light trucks, including SUVs.

The Groupʼs overseas unit sales marked a slight decrease of 2,000 units (0.2%) to 903,000 units. While the unit sales in 
the U.S. stayed strong, reaching a record-high for the ninth consecutive fi scal year, the unit sales in China decreased owing 
to fierce competition. By region, sales volume increased by 7,000 units (1.0%) year on year to 728,000 units in North 
America, increased by 2,000 units (3.7%) to 48,000 units in Europe and Russia, increased by 7,000 units (13.4%) to 56,000 
units in Australia, decreased by 17,000 units (38.9%) to 27,000 units in China, and decreased by less than 1,000 units (0.8%) 
to 45,000 units in other regions.

Aerospace Company
Net sales from the Aerospace Company were 142.2 billion yen, up by 3.4 billion yen (2.5%), and segment income was 12.3 
billion yen, up by 3.2 billion yen (34.7%), compared with the previous fi scal year. Sales of products for the Japan Ministry of 
Defense saw an increase from the previous fi scal year, mainly due to current development under a contract for the new 
UH-X multi-purpose helicopter. Sales of products for the commercial sector also grew year on year with the increase in 
production of the Boeing 787, covering the decline in production of the Boeing 777.

Other Businesses
Net sales from Other Businesses were 28.2 billion yen, down by 7.1 billion yen (20.1%), and segment income was 5.1 billion 
yen, up by 1.6 billion yen (44.2%), compared with the previous fi scal year.

Net Sales by Segment

(Billions of yen)

Operating Income by Segment

(Billions of yen)

ʼ14/3

ʼ15/3

ʼ16/3

ʼ17/3

ʼ18/3

ʼ14/3

ʼ15/3

ʼ16/3

ʼ17/3

ʼ18/3

Automotive

2,246.6

2,699.0

3,039.4

3,152.0 3,234.9

Automotive

309.0

400.9

543.6

397.7

361.5

Aerospace

124.4

142.8

152.8

138.8

142.2

Industrial 
products

Other

Total

29.8

29.0

̶

̶

̶

7.3

7.1

40.0

35.3

28.2

Aerospace

14.1

18.9

18.2

9.1

12.3

Industrial 
products

Other

Corporate and 
elimination

0.6

2.1

0.6

0.8

1.9

0.6

̶

3.0

0.8

̶

3.5

0.5

̶

5.1

0.7

2,408.1

2,877.9

3,232.3

3,326.0 3,405.2

Total

326.5

423.0

565.6

410.8

379.4

*  Following the decision in November 2016 to terminate the Industrial Products business, the said business has been included in the Other Businesses segment 

since FYE March 2017. Figures for FYE March 2016 in the tables above have been restated to comply with the new segment classifi cation.

R&D Expenses
In the fi scal year under review, R&D expenses increased by 6.9 billion yen (6.0%) compared with the previous fi scal year to 
121.1 billion yen. Of that amount, 117.6 billion yen was related to the Automotive Business Unit. In FYE March 2019, the 
Group plans to reduce R&D spending by 1.1 billion yen (1.0%) year on year to 120.0 billion yen.

Annual Report 2018

52

 
 
Financial Review

Capital Expenditures and Depreciation
In the fi scal year under review, the Group made capital expenditures of 141.4 billion yen, a decrease of 17.1 billion yen 
(10.8%) compared with the previous fi scal year. Among the total capital expenditures, 133.4 billion yen has been spent in 
relation to the Automotive Business Unit. The Company made investments of 63.0 billion yen in the automotive business, 
primarily for augmenting production capacity accompanying the increase in unit sales and for developing and expanding 
production facilities for new products, R&D facilities, and sales networks. Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc. (SIA), our 
production base in the U.S., made investments of 39.5 billion yen, mainly for new products and production facilities to 
boost production capacity. Subaru of America, Inc. (SOA), a sales subsidiary in the U.S., also spent 9.0 billion yen mainly for 
the relocation of its head offi ce. Depreciation expenses in the fi scal year under review increased by 12.8 billion yen (16.6%) 
year on year to 89.8 billion yen. Capital expenditures in FYE March 2019 are projected to decrease by 11.4 billion yen (8.1%) 
year on year to 130.0 billion yen, and depreciation expenses to increase by 3.2 billion yen (3.6%) to 93.0 billion yen.

R&D Expenses

Capital Expenditures/Depreciation Expenses

Capital expenditures

Depreciation expenses

(Billions of yen)

(Billions of yen)

121.1

114.2

102.4

83.5

60.1

150

120

90

60

30

0

200

150

100

50

0

158.5

141.4

135.7

110.7

68.5

54.9

64.8

65.0

89.8

77.0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

Liquidity and Source of Funds
Financial Position
Total assets as of March 31, 2018 were 2,884.3 billion yen, an increase of 122.0 billion yen compared with the previous fi scal 
year-end.  Property,  plant  and  equipment,  funds  in  hand  (the  sum  of  cash  and  deposits  and  short-term  investment 
securities), and deferred tax assets increased by 45.8 billion yen, 28.6 billion yen, and 26.5 billion yen, respectively. Total 
liabilities amounted to 1,323.3 billion yen, up by 25.9 billion yen from the previous fi scal year-end. While the total of short-
term loans payable and both current and noncurrent long-term loans payable decreased by 62.1 billion yen, provision for 
loss related to airbags and accrued expenses increased by 64.7 billion yen and 34.6 billion yen, respectively. The fi scal 

Total Assets/Net Assets/
Ratio of Shareholders’ Equity to Total Assets

Total assets (Left)
Ratio of shareholders’ equity to total assets (Right)

Net assets (Left)

2,762.3

2,884.3

2,592.4

51.8

52.8

1,349.4
1,349.4

1,464.9
1,464.9

53.8

1,561.0

(Billions of yen)

3,000

2,000

1,888.4

2,199.7

46.5

1,030.7
1,030.7

40.5

770.1

1,000

0

Interest-Bearing Debt/D/E Ratio

Interest-bearing debt (Left)

D/E ratio (Right)

(Billions of yen)

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

269.7

211.2

0.350.35

170.0

148.3

0.210.21

86.2

0.130.13

0.100.10

0.060.06

(Times)
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0

(%)
90

60

30

0

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

53

Annual Report 2018

year-end balance of interest-bearing debt decreased by 62.1 billion yen from the previous fi scal year-end to 86.2 billion 
yen. The debt/equity ratio (interest-bearing debt over shareholdersʼ equity) was 0.06, remaining at a safe level. Net assets 
stood at 1,561.0 billion yen, an increase of 96.1 billion yen compared with the previous fi scal year-end, mainly due to an 
increase in retained earnings of 110.3 billion yen. The shareholdersʼ equity ratio resulted in 53.8%.

Cash Flows
In the fi scal year under review, net cash provided by operating activities was 366.3 billion yen. Major cash in-fl ow items were 
income before income taxes of 297.3 billion yen, and provision for loss related to airbags of 64.7 billion yen. Net cash used 
in investing activities was 150.7 billion yen. Major cash out-flow items included purchase of non-current assets (net of 
proceeds from sales) of 146.5 billion yen. As a result, free cash fl ow for the fi scal year under review was 215.6 billion yen. 
Net cash used in fi nancing activities totaled 170.9 billion yen. Major cash out-fl ow items were cash dividends paid of 110.3 
billion yen, repayments of long-term loans payable (net of proceeds) of 40.9 billion yen, and net decrease in short-term 
loans payable of 18.4 billion yen. As a result of the above cash fl ows, including the effect of translation adjustments, cash 
and cash equivalents at the end of the fi scal year under review amounted to 765.6 billion yen.

Cash Flows from Operating Activities and 
Investing Activities

Free Cash Flow

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

(Billions of yen)

(Billions of yen)

800

600

400

200

0

-200

-400

614.3

313.0

311.5

345.4

366.3

-33.9

-172.8

-255.7

-254.3

-150.7

400

300

200

100

0

358.6

279.1

215.6

138.8

91.2

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

’14/3

’15/3

’16/3

’17/3

’18/3

Basic Policy on Profi t Distribution and Dividends
The Company regards shareholder interests as an important management priority and applies a performance-linked 
approach to shareholder returns by considering the business performance of each fi scal year, investment plans, and the 
business environment, while maintaining a basic policy of paying continuous dividends. The Company determines dividend 
payments  for  each  fiscal  year  based  on  a  consolidated  dividend  payout  ratio  range  of  30-50%,  taking  a  variety  of 
conditions into consideration. In light of these considerations, the Company paid an annual dividend of 144 yen per share 
for the fi scal year under review, the same as the previous fi scal year. Internal reserves are allocated to investments for future 
growth, such as strengthening production and sales systems as well as research and development activities for the purpose 
of offering appealing products, while bolstering the fi nancial position.

In July 2018, the Company announced its future capital policy in the new mid-term management vision “STEP,” the 
details of which are explained on pages 13-14. For FYE March 2019, the Company plans to pay a dividend of 144 yen per 
share (interim and year-end dividends of 72 yen each), the same as for the fi scal year under review.

Business Performance in FYE March 2019
The Company forecasts the consolidated automobile sales volume in FYE March 2019 will continue to increase, mainly in 
the North America market, to 1,100,000 units. Consolidated net sales are forecasted to mark 3,250.0 billion yen, due to the 
negative effect of foreign exchange rate fl uctuations and changes in accounting policies. In terms of income, despite the 
expected increase in automobile unit sales, the Company forecasts consolidated operating income of 300.0 billion yen, 
consolidated ordinary income of 305.0 billion yen, and net income attributable to owners of parent of 220.0 billion yen, due 
to the increase in selling expenses from higher interest rates in the U.S., and higher raw material costs. The exchange rate 
assumptions used for the full-year forecast of consolidated business performance are 105 yen/1 U.S. dollar (actual rate of 
111 yen in FYE 2018) and 130 yen/1 euro (actual rate of 130 yen in FYE 2018).

Annual Report 2018

54

 
Financial Review

Business Risks
Operational and other risks that could signifi cantly infl uence the decisions of investors and impact the Companyʼs fi nancial 
status are set out below.

Based on information available to the Group as of the end of the consolidated fi scal year under review, the enumerated 
risks include forward-looking statements, but do not encompass every possible risk posed to the Group. As such, there are 
other risk factors which could infl uence investors and their decisions.

(1) Economic Trends
Economic trends in countries and regions that comprise important markets for the Group could potentially impact the 
Groupʼs business performance. In Japan and North America, key markets for the Group, economic recession, decreasing 
demand or increasing price competition could undermine the sales and profi tability of the Groupʼs products and services.

(2) Currency Exchange Rate Fluctuations
The Groupʼs ratio of overseas net sales stood at 80.4%. The Groupʼs consolidated fi nancial statements, which are presented 
in Japanese yen, are affected by translation of overseas net sales, operating income and assets from local currencies, 
particularly U.S. dollars, into yen. Accordingly, in the event that discrepancies arise between projected exchange rates in 
full-year forecasts and actual rates at the time of account settlement, the Groupʼs business performance and financial 
position may be adversely affected when the yen appreciates or positively affected when the yen depreciates.

The Company uses forward exchange rate contracts and other circumstance-appropriate risk hedges to minimize the 
Groupʼs sensitivity to such currency exchange risks. However, the effect of severe fl uctuations in currency exchange rates at 
the end of the fiscal year could result in a loss on valuation of derivatives and have a major impact on non-operating 
expenses.

(3) Dependence on Certain Businesses
The  Group  is  mainly  comprised  of  the  Automobiles  and  Aerospace  business  segments.  However,  the  Automobiles 
business segment accounts for the overwhelming majority of the Groupʼs business operations. Accordingly, in the event 
that automobile-related demand, market conditions, price competition with other automakers, or other factors exceed 
projected levels, the entire Groupʼs overall business performance and fi nancial position could be signifi cantly affected.

(4) Changes in Market Appraisal
The Group develops, manufactures and releases new products based on appropriate timing and pricing in line with 
product planning that reflects market demand and customer needs. Such actions are the most important factors in 
maintaining stable increases in Group business performance. In the event that market appraisals of new model vehicles 
and other new products do not meet sales plan expectations or that the obsolescence rate of current products exceeds 
forecasts, the Groupʼs business performance and fi nancial position could be signifi cantly affected.

(5) Dependence on Specifi c Suppliers, Raw Materials, and Components
The Group procures raw materials, components and other items from numerous suppliers. However, there are cases in 
which the Group relies on certain items and/or a limited number of suppliers. Due to tightening supply and demand or 
other factors, the inability to procure supplies in a manner that ensures stable costs, delivery dates and quality could 
seriously impact the Groupʼs business performance and fi nancial position.

(6) Protection of intellectual property
The Group is strongly committed to protecting its intellectual property in areas, such as technologies and expertise, that 
ensure product differentiation. However, in cases where a third party makes unauthorized use of the Groupʼs intellectual 
property to manufacture similar products and in cases where a dispute relating to intellectual property arises and a decision 
disadvantageous to the Company is made, the Groupʼs business results and financial condition may be significantly 
affected.

(7) Product Defects
The  Group  places  the  highest  priority  on  the  safety  of  the  products  it  develops,  manufactures  and  sells.  However, 
completely avoiding defects and recalls, etc. regarding all products and services is impossible. The substantial cost, 
damage to our brand image, etc. associated with a major recall could signifi cantly affect the Groupʼs business performance 
and fi nancial position.

55

Annual Report 2018

 
 
(8) Retirement Benefi ts and Retirement Benefi t Obligations
The Groupʼs employee retirement benefit costs and obligations are calculated based on the following assumptions: 
retirement benefi t obligation discount rates and the expected long-term rate of return on pension assets, both of which 
are established based on mathematical calculations. However, in the event that actual performance differs from the 
assumptions, the Groupʼs business performance and fi nancial position could be affected over the long term.

(9) Environmental and Other Legal Regulations
The Group is subject to various domestic and overseas legal regulations in relation to automobile fuel effi ciency, exhaust 
emissions, energy conservation, noise, recycling, the level of pollutants emitted from manufacturing facilities, and the 
safety of automobiles and other products. The Groupʼs business performance and fi nancial position could be affected by 
cost increases due to future tightening of such regulations.

(10) Impact of Natural Disasters, War, Terror, Strikes and Other Events
The occurrence of natural disasters such as major earthquakes, typhoons, etc., and diseases, wars, terrorist attacks or other 
events, could impede the Groupʼs business activities as well as delay or suspend raw material/component purchases, 
production, product sales/transport, and the provision of services. The Groupʼs business performance and fi nancial position 
could be affected in the event that such delays or suspensions are prolonged.

(11) International Business Activities
Though the Group focuses on the U.S., it does business in countries around the world. Business activities in overseas 
markets entail the following types of risk. If any of these risks materializes, the Groupʼs business performance and fi nancial 
position could be adversely affected.
(cid:129) Unfavorable political or economic factors
(cid:129) Diffi culties arising from changes in laws or regulations
(cid:129) Revisions to taxes, duties, or other taxation systems
(cid:129) Diffi culties in hiring and retaining personnel

(12) Impact of Information Security
The Group uses various kinds of information technology, networks, and systems in product development, production, 
sales,  and  other  business  activities.  Although  safety  measures  have  been  implemented  with  respect  to  information 
technology, networks, and systems, interruption of important work or services, data corruption or loss, leaks of confi dential 
information, or other problems could occur due to cyberattacks, hacking, computer virus attacks, or the like. This could 
damage the brand image or adversely affect the Groupʼs business performance and fi nancial position.

(13) Compliance and Reputation
The Group considers rigorous compliance one of the most important management priorities and strives to avoid or 
minimize compliance risks through compliance with all laws, ordinances, and internal regulations required in corporate 
activities and the execution of fair and equitable corporate activities in conformity with social norms. Nevertheless, the 
occurrence of a material legal violation could have a signifi cant impact on the Group and adversely affect the Groupʼs 
business performance and financial position due to loss of customer confidence and trust, or damage to the Groupʼs 
reputation in society.

Annual Report 2018

56

 
Location

Land Area
(Thousand m2)

Building Area
(Thousand m2)

Number of
Employees
(Person)

Main Products

Corporate Information

Domestic Facilities

Name

Head Offi ce (Ebisu)

SUBARU Training Facility
(SUBARU Academy)

Head Offi ce

Other

Parts Distribution Center, Pre 
Delivery Inspection Center, 
parking lot, Vicinity of Oizumi 
Plant etc.

Tokyo

Tokyo

4 

10 

Gunma

572
[15]

Tokyo Offi ce

Tokyo

158 

Gunma Main Plant 

Gunma

585
[12]

Gunma Yajima Plant

Gunma

550 

259

3,041

Automotive 
Business

Gunma 
Plant

Gunma Oizumi Plant

Gunma

Gunma Ota North Plant

Gunma

304 

44 

SUBARU 
R&E Center (Sano)

SUBARU 
R&E Center (Bifuka)

Tochigi

1,081 

Hokkaido

3,614 

14 

13 

164

76

332

599

38 

142 

1,664

4,416

229 

2,637

25

25 

2

232

27

14 

0 

171

0 

1,849

277

45

̶

̶

̶

̶

LEVORG, IMPREZA, 
SUBARU XV, WRX and 
SUBARU BRZ

LEGACY, OUTBACK, 
IMPREZA, SUBARU XV and 
FORESTER

Automobile engines and 
transmissions

̶

̶

̶

Aircraft

Aircraft

Aircraft

573

59 

42 

7,596

1,412

14,879

767

111

219

45

184

6

143

0

0

100

7

66

1

92

1,475

266

9,071

1,678

Aerospace 
Company

Subtotal (1)

Utsunomiya Plant

Handa Plant

Handa West Plant

The site of airport

Utsunomiya airstrip

Welfare facility

Other

Lease to affi liates

Isesaki business offi ce

Eco Utsunomiya factory

Saitama Plant

Subtotal (2)

Total (1)+(2)

Tochigi

Aichi

Aichi

Gunma

Tochigi

̶

Aichi

Gunma

Tochigi

Saitama

1.  [   ]: area of tenancy 
2.  Welfare facility includes 37 sites of dormitories and company houses. 
3.  Number of employees excludes executive offi cers, advisors and dispatches.

57

Annual Report 2018

Main Subsidiaries (Domestic)

(As of May 1, 2018) 
(Number of Employees: as of March 31, 2018)

Name

Established

Location

Representa-
tive

Capital 
(Millions of 
yen)

Equity 
Interest 
(%)

Number of 
Employees 
(Persons)

FYE 2018 
Net sales 
(Millions of yen)

Operations

Fuji Machinery Co., Ltd.

  1950.  7. 18

Gunma

Ichitan Co., Ltd.

  1951.  2.  2

Gunma

KIRYU INDUSTRY Co., Ltd.

  1960. 12. 23

Gunma

Subaru Tecnica International 
Inc.

  1988.  4.  2

Tokyo

Subaru Used cars Sales & 
Marketing Co., Ltd.

  1988.  4.  2 Kanagawa

Subaru Auto Accessories Ltd.

  1987.  3.  9

Saitama

Subaru Logistics Co., Ltd.

  1986.  3. 27

Gunma

H. B. C. Co., Ltd.

  1983.  8. 29 Kanagawa

Subaru Finance Co., Ltd.

  1988.  7.  1

Tokyo

SUBARU TECHNO 
CORPORATION

  1985.  3.  2

Tokyo

Subaru Intelligent Service Ltd.

  2005.  3.  1

Tokyo

Yusoki Kogyo K. K.

  1950.  7. 15

Aichi

Yasuhiro 
Arai 

Satoshi 
Maeda

Yukio 
Nakano 

Yoshio 
Hirakawa 

Masahiro 
Maeda 

Toshio 
Masuda 

Tamaki 
Kamogawa

Kei 
Ono

Mitsuru 
Takahashi 

Tatsuhiko 
Mukawa 

Kunihiko 
Tashiro 

Eiji 
Tanikawa

480 

100.0

448

36,671

Manufacture and sales of automobile parts, 
industrial product parts and agricultural 
transmissions

480 

100.0

226

18,993

Manufacture and sales of forging parts of 
automobile and industrial machinery

400 

97.7

274

11,763

250 

100.0

97

4,594

Manufacture of specially-equipped SUBARU 
automobiles, engines, sheet metal repair parts 
and remanufacture of transmissions

Management of motor sports activities, sales of 
motor sports parts and merchandise, technical 
development, R&D support, and automobile 
maintenance

100 

100.0

20 

3,723

Tack-related operation of used cars, 
head offi ce of SUAA Kanto, sales of supplies

70 

100.0

66

14,519

96 

100.0

339

21,991

Sales, research & development, licensing of 
technology and import-export business of 
automobile accessories, parts and service 
materials

Shipping, land freight, warehousing, 
maintenance and insurance for automobiles and 
their components

490 

68.0

9

712

Storing and shipping of automobiles for 
international sales

2,000 

100.0

221

19,799

Leasing and rental of SUBARU automobiles, 
credit, fi nancing and sales of auto insurance

70 

100.0

854

7,943

Design, plan, research, experiment, examination 
and compile technical material of automobile, 
aircraft, general-purpose engine and 
environmental tool

40 

75.0

56

2,056

Development of technical service documents 
including service manuals and owners manuals

100 

100.0

130

2,070

Manufacture and sales of aircraft parts

Fuji Aircraft Maintenance 
Co., Ltd.

  1988. 10. 31

Tokyo

Takayuki 
Kobayashi 

30 

100.0 

181

1,440

Inspection, service and maintenance of 
aircraft and onboard equipment

Fuji Aerospace Corporation.

  1991.  6. 14

Tochigi

Fuji Aerospace Technology 
Co., Ltd.

  1994.  4.  1

Tochigi

Fuji Heavy Industries House 
Co., Ltd.

  1999.  9.  1

Gunma

Industrial Products Co., Ltd.

  2017. 10.  1

Saitama

Subaru Kohsan Co., Ltd.

  1977.  2.  2

Tokyo

SUBARU IT CREATIONS
CORPORATION

  1993.  4.  1

Saitama

Subaru Living Service 
Co., Ltd.

  1988.  4.  2

Tokyo

Shareholdings of SUBARU Corporation

Eishi 
Umehara 

Hiroshi 
Wakai 

Kazuo 
Terauchi 

Kazuto 
Shimada 

Yasuo 
Kosakai 

Nozomu
Oyama

Masami 
Iida 

30 

100.0

132

1,388

Processing and assembly of aircraft parts

20 

100.0

93

2,741

200 

87.2

37

2,320

20 

100.0

219

1,955

675 

100.0

64

6,276

100 

100.0

261

13,535

Contract design, drafting, translation, 
calculation, analytical testing and software 
development for aircraft

Rental/lease/sales of temporary houses, 
transport and set up of temporary houses, 
deal of used houses

Customer support for small general-purpose 
engines and associated parts, including quality 
assurance and spare part sales

Deal/rental of real estate, administrative 
operation of rental hall and conference room, 
administrative operation/rental of parking 
ground, travel agency

Development, maintenance and operation of 
information systems and related consulting 
services; sales and leasing of information 
equipment

20 

100.0

351

16,118

Sales of offi ce supplies and daily commodities, 
real estate services, and personal import services

Annual Report 2018

58

Corporate Information

Main Subsidiaries (Overseas)

(As of April 1, 2018) 
(Number of Employees: as of March 31, 2018)

Region

Name

Established

Address

Represen-
tative

Equity 
Interest (%)

Number of 
Employees 
(Persons)

Operations

Subaru of America, Inc.

1990.9

One Subaru Drive, Camden,  
NJ 08013, U.S.A.

Thomas J. 
Doll

100

1,304

Sales of SUBARU vehicles and 
supplies

Subaru of Indiana 
Automotive, Inc.

1987.3

5500 State Road 38 East, Lafayette,  
IN 47905, U.S.A.

Eiji  
Ogino 

100

5,613

North American Subaru, 
Inc.

1985.9

C/O Subaru of America, Inc. 
Subaru Plaza, 2235 Route  
70 West Cherry Hill, NJ 08002, U.S.A.

Shinichiro 
Sumi

100

76

Manufacture of SUBARU vehicles, 
purchasing of parts, sales for Subaru 
of America, Inc.

Technical research on SUBARU 
vehicles in North American market, 
government relations

North 
America

Subaru Research & 
Development, Inc.

1986.6

Subaru Canada, Inc.

1989.1

Subaru Europe N.V./S.A.

2002.3

Subaru Italia S.p.A.

1985.7

Europe

N.V. Subaru Benelux

1974.3

3995 Research Park Drive, Ann Arbor,  
MI 48108, U.S.A.

6431 Global Drive Cypress,  
CA 90630, U.S.A.

14382 Chambers Road, Tustin,  
CA 92780, U.S.A.

46718 Fremont Blvd, Fremont,  
CA 94538, U.S.A.

C/O Subaru of Indiana Automotive, 
Inc.  
5500 State Road 38 East, Lafayette,  
IN 47905, U.S.A.

560 Suffolk Court Mississauga,  
Ontario, L5R 4J7, Canada

Leuvensesteenweg 555 B/8,  
1930 Zaventem, Belgium

Via Montefeltro, 6/A,  
20156 Milano, Italy

Leuvensesteenweg 555 B/1, 
1930 Zaventem, Belgium

Subaru Vehicle 
Distribution B.V.

2001.5

Merseyweg 40, 3197 KG Botlek,  
Netherlands

Subaru of China Ltd.

2006.3

Beijing Landmark Towers Office 
Building 2-1501, 8 North Dongsanhuan 
Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 
100004, China

Tetsuo 
Onuki

100

81

Compiling of technical information 
about automobile market of North 
America, research and development 
of SUBARU vehicles

Yasushi 
Enami

Masamichi 
Kudo

Takashi 
Yamada

Shunsuke 
Sawada

Shunsuke 
Sawada

100

100

100

100

50

148

Sales of SUBARU vehicles and 
supplies

45

53

42

1

Sales of SUBARU vehicles and 
supplies

Sales of SUBARU vehicles and 
supplies

Sales of SUBARU vehicles and 
supplies

Contract of discharging and 
transporting inland for dealers in 
Middle Europe, PDI operation

Yasushi 
Nagae

60

199

Sales of SUBARU vehicles
and supplies

Asia

Subaru Technology 
Beijing. Co., Ltd.

2013.6

Beijing Landmark Towers Office 
Building 1-802, 8 North Dongsanhuan 
Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing 
100004, China

Hisato 
Imamura 

SUBARU ASIA PTE. LTD.

1995.2

24 Raffles Place, #26-06B Clifford 
Centre, Singapore 048621

Takuma 
Noguchi

100

100

31

2

Authentication, research and 
development of SUBARU vehicles in 
Chinese market

Launch support of SUBARU vehicle 
production in Asia

59

Annual Report 2018

Sales Agents (Domestic)

(As of July 1, 2018)

Area 

Group

Head

Agent 

Subsidiary

Location

President

New Car Base

Hokkaido 
Tohoku area (9)

Kanto Koshinetsu 
Hokuriku area (12)

Chubu 
Kinki area (11)

Chugoku Shikoku 
Kyushu area (12)

Tohoku region

Hoku Shinetsu 
region

Tokyo/Yamanashi

Tokai region

Kinki region

Chugoku/
Shikoku  region

Kyushu region

Kushiro Subaru Inc.

Obihiro Subaru Inc

Hokkaido Subaru Inc.

○

Miyagi Subaru Inc

Aomori Subaru Inc.

Iwate Subaru Inc

Akita Subaru Inc.

Yamagata Subaru Inc

Fukushima Subaru Inc.

○

Niigata Subaru Inc

Subaru Shinshu Inc. 

Hokuriku Subaru Inc.

Nanshin Subaru Inc

Fuji Subaru Inc

Tochigi Subaru Inc

Ibaraki Subaru Inc

Saitama Subaru Inc

Kanagawa Subaru Inc

Chiba Subaru Inc

Tokyo Subaru Inc

Yamanashi Subaru Inc.

Shizuoka Subaru Inc.

○

Nagoya Subaru Inc. 

Gifu Subaru Inc

Mie Subaru Inc.

Subaru Higashi Aichi Inc.

Fukui Minami Subaru Inc.

Nara Subaru Inc.

○

Osaka Subaru Inc

Kyoto Subaru Inc.

Shiga Subaru Inc.

Hyogo Subaru Inc.

○

Hiroshima Subaru Inc.

Sanin Subaru Inc.

Okayama Subaru Inc

Yamaguchi Subaru Inc.

Higashi Shikoku Subaru Inc

Shikoku Subaru Inc.

○

Fukuoka Subaru Inc

Nishi Kyushu Subaru Inc

Kumamoto Subaru Inc

Oita Subaru Inc. 

Minami Kyushu Subaru Inc

Okinawa Subaru Inc

Total 

6

44

Hokkaido

Hiroshi Uehara

Hokkaido

Takashi Ishihara

Hokkaido

Tomoo Takenaka

Miyagi

Aomori

Iwate

Akita

Makoto Hada

Kenichi Kobayashi

Yasuo Watanabe

Takaharu Mitsui

Yamagata

Toshiki Sugihara

Fukushima

Ryoichi Uchida

Niigata

Nagano

Ishikawa

Nagano

Gunma

Tochigi

Ibaraki

Tatsuya Yamano

Kinya Abe

Shiro Ohta

Hirotada Shibata

Wataru Miyata

Kazumasa Kodaira

Naoki Otsuki

Saitama

Hiroshi Yoshizawa 

Kanagawa

Katsuhisa Iiyama

Chiba

Tokyo

Tsuguto Nakamura

Kazuo Hosoya

Yamanashi

Hirohiko Kumada

Shizuoka

Shinichi Ishida

Aichi

Gifu

Mie

Aichi

Fukui

Nara

Osaka

Kyoto

Shiga

Hyogo

Takumi Ogasawara

Koichi Numa

Masato Yachida

Yasuo Nishikawa

Satoshi Okada

Yuzuru Takagi

Motoya Yamamoto

Tetsuo Inoue

Tomio Sogou

Syuji Sunaga

Hiroshima

Ken Fukuda

Tottori

Nobuhiro Mori

Okayama

Sadayuki Hata

Yamaguchi

Wataru Ishihara

Kagawa

Ehime

Hiromi Fujita 

Tsukasa Morita

Fukuoka

Kazuto Sakamoto

Nagasaki

Makoto Kimura

Kumamoto

Tetsuya Matsumoto

Oita

Eiji Akamine

Kagoshima

Hiroshi Kurotani

Okinawa

Masaaki Kakazu

̶

̶

1

1

20

11

6

9

6

5

11

11

10

12

1

17

12

10

16

26

20

32

3

12

22

9

7

3

1

5

26

8

7

18

9

7

7

8

8

7

16

7

8

5

10

3

453

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

○

33

Annual Report 2018

60

Corporate Information

Distributors (Overseas)

Region 

Market

Company

Location

(As of July 1 2018)
(Dealer numbers: as of December 31, 2017)

Number of 
Dealers

SUBARU 
Ownership

North 
America

U.S.

Subaru of America, Inc.

Camden, NJ, U.S.A.

Canada 

Subaru Canada, Inc.

Mississauga, Ontario, Canada

Total

3 countries

Germany

SUBARU DEUTSCHLAND GMBH

Friedberg, Germany  

Europe

Switzerland

SUBARU SCHWEIZ AG

Safenwil, Switzerland

Sweden

Subaru Nordic AB

Arlöv, Sweden

Total

30 countries

CIS・Middle 
East・Africa

Israel

Russia

Egypt

Total

19 countries

Japanauto-Israel Auto Corporation Ltd.

Petah Tikva, Israel

SUBARU MOTOR (RUSSIA) LLC

Moscow, Russia

ABOU GHALY MOTORS

Cairo, Arab Republic of Egypt

Oceania

Australia

Subaru (Aust) Pty Ltd.

Sydney, Australia

New Zealand

Subaru of New Zealand

Auckland, New Zealand

Total

8 countries

Latin 
America

Chile

Peru

Subaru Chile S.A.

Vitacura Santiago, Chile

Inchcape del Perù S.A.

Lima, Peru

Mexico

SGM Automotoriz de México S.A. de C.V.

Mexico, D.F., Mexico

Total

24 countries

Taiwan

Subaru of Taiwan Co.,Ltd.

Taoyuan City, Taiwan

Asia

Philippines

Motor Image Philipinas, Inc.

Pasig City, Metro Manila, Philippines

Singapore

Motor Image Enterprises Pte Ltd

Singapore

Total

9 countries

China

Subaru of China Ltd.

Beijing, China

Total

1 country

630

93

̶

179

157

133

̶

13

47

31

̶

116

16

̶

24

10

13

̶

23

17

2

̶

208

̶

100%

100%

̶

29%

0%

0%

̶

0%

33%

0%

̶

8%

0%

̶

0%

0%

0%

̶

35%

0%

0%

̶

60%

̶

61

Annual Report 2018

Global Network

Main Overseas Business Sites

4

2

1 3

5 6

1

12

11

9
10

7 8

1  Subaru Europe N.V./S.A.

7  Subaru of America, Inc.

2  Subaru Italia S.p.A.

3  N.V. Subaru Benelux

8  North American Subaru, Inc.

9  Subaru Research & Development, Inc.

4  Subaru Vehicle Distribution B.V.

10 Subaru of Indiana Automotive, Inc.

5  Subaru of China Ltd.

6  Subaru Technology Beijing. Co.Ltd.

Production Models:
Legacy, Outback, Impreza, Ascent

11 Subaru Canada, Inc.

12 SUBARU ASIA PTE. LTD.

Main Domestic Business Sites

Automotive Business Unit

Gunma Plant

Plant

Production Models

Main Plant

Levorg, Impreza, SUBARU XV, 
WRX, SUBARU BRZ

Yajima Plant

Oizumi Plant

Legacy, Outback, Impreza, 
SUBARU XV, Forester

Automobile engines and 
transmissions

Aerospace Company

Handa Plant
Handa West Plant

Aerospace Company

Utsunomiya Plant

Tokyo Offi ce

1

Head Offi ce

Annual Report 2018

62

Corporate Information

Corporate Data (As of March 31, 2018)

Company Name

SUBARU CORPORATION

Main Businesses

Established

July 15, 1953

Paid-In Capital

¥153,795 million

Fiscal Year-End

March 31

Accounting Auditors

KPMG AZSA LLC

Automotive:
 The manufacture, sale, and repair of 
passenger cars and their components
Aerospace:
The manufacture, sale, and repair of 
airplanes, aerospace-related machinery 
and their components

Number of Affi liates

75 consolidated subsidiaries and 
8 equity-method affi liated companies

Number of Employees

14,879 (consolidated: 33,544)
(excluding executive offi cers, advisors and dispatches)

Website Addresses

Corporate website: 
https://www.subaru.co.jp/en/
Investor information website: 
https://www.subaru.co.jp/en/ir/

Stock Information (As of March 31, 2018)

Common Stock Authorized

1,500,000,000 shares

Breakdown of Shareholders

Common Stock Issued

769,175,873 shares

Number of Shareholders

138,794

Number of Shares per 
Trading Unit

100 shares

Stock Exchange Listing

Tokyo Stock Exchange

Securities Code

Transfer Agent

Major Shareholders

7270

Mizuho Trust & Banking Co., Ltd.
2-1, Yaesu 1-chome, Chuo-ku, 
Tokyo 103-8670, Japan
Telephone: 0120-288-324 (toll-free)

Securities companies
32,136,000 shares
4.2%

Individuals and others
91,637,000 shares
11.9%

Japanese 
corporations 
and others
157,018,000 shares
20.4%

Treasury stock
2,055,000 shares
0.3%

Financial institutions
248,835,000 shares
32.4%

Foreign institutions 
and others
237,492,000 shares
30.9%

Name

Toyota Motor Corporation

The Master Trust Bank of Japan, Ltd. (Trust account)

Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust account)

BNYM TREATY DTT 15

Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust account 5)

STATE STREET BANK WEST CLIENT-TREATY 505234

Japan Trustee Services Bank, Ltd. (Trust account 4)

Mizuho Bank, Ltd.

MIZUHO SECURITIES ASIA LIMITED-CLIENT A/C

Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc.

Number of Shares Held
(in thousands)

Percentage of Total
Shares Held

129,000

16.82%

49,904

44,410

14,055

11,863

11,048

10,433

10,078

10,002

9,726

6.51%

5.79%

1.83%

1.55%

1.44%

1.36%

1.31%

1.30%

1.27%

*The Percentage of Total Shares Held are calculated based on the number of shares excluding treasury stock.

Contact for Inquiries:
Investor Relations,
Corporate Communications Dept., SUBARU CORPORATION
Address: Ebisu Subaru Bldg., 1-20-8, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-8554
Telephone: +81-3-6447-8000 (switchboard)

63

Annual Report 2018

Ebisu Subaru Bldg., 1-20-8, Ebisu, Shibuya-ku, 
Tokyo 150-8554
Phone & Fax: +81-3-6447-8000
http://www.subaru.co.jp/en/ir/

Consolidated Balance Sheets
SUBARU CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
As of March 31, 2018 and 2017

106.27

ASSETS
Current assets: 

Cash and deposits (Note 4 and 5)
Notes and accounts receivable-trade (Note 5)
Lease investment assets (Note 5 and 17)
Short-term investment securities (Notes 4, 5 and 6) 
Merchandise and finished goods
Work in process 
Raw materials and supplies
Deferred tax assets (Note 12)
Short-term loans receivable (Note 5)
Other current assets
Allowance for doubtful accounts 
Total current assets

Property, plant and equipment (Notes 7 and 9)

Accumulated depreciation
Accumulated impairment loss
Total property, plant and equipment

Investments and other assets: 

Intangible assets
Investment securities (Note 5 and 6)
Investments in non-consolidated subsidiaries and affiliated companies
Net defined benefit assets(Note 11)
Deferred tax assets (Note 12) 
Other assets 
Allowance for doubtful accounts 

Total investments and other assets

Total assets

 Millions of yen

2018

2017

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars
(Note 1)
2018

¥765,397
155,247
17,120
242,573
202,435
52,307
42,448
124,766
185,364
107,893
(340)
1,895,210

1,698,491
(968,876)
(26,507)
703,108

28,293
106,964
9,817
82
32,244
111,957
(3,362)

285,995

¥658,822
158,454
18,538
320,579
205,991
51,754
43,586
109,600
176,433
102,045
(551)
1,845,251

1,622,363
(937,015)
(28,083)
657,265

24,905
104,278
4,006
931
20,922
108,074
(3,311)

259,805

$7,202,381
1,460,873
161,099
2,282,610
1,904,912
492,209
399,435
1,174,047
1,744,274
1,015,272
(3,198)
17,833,914

15,982,789
(9,117,117)
(249,431)
6,616,241

266,237
1,006,531
92,378
772
303,416
1,053,513
(31,636)

2,691,211

¥2,884,313

¥2,762,321

$27,141,366

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS
Current liabilities: 

Notes and accounts payable-trade (Note 5)
Electronically recorded obligations-operating (Note 5)
Short-term loans payable (Note 5 and 7)
Current portion of long-term debts (Note 5 and 7)
Accrued expenses (Note 5)
Provision for bonuses
Provision for product warranties
Accrued income taxes (Note 5 and 12)
Provision for loss on business liquidation
Provision for loss related to airbags
Other current liabilities (Note 5 and 7)
Total current liabilities

Long-term liabilities:

Long-term debts (Note 5 and 7) 
Net defined benefit liability(Note 11)
Provision for product warranties
Deferred tax liabilities (Note 12)
Other long-term liabilities (Note 7)
Total long-term liabilities

Contingent liabilities (Note 19)
Net assets: (Note 13)
Shareholders' equity:
Capital stock

Authorized— 
Issued —  

1,500,000,000 shares
769,175,873 shares

Capital surplus
Retained earnings 
Less-treasury stock, at cost,

2018— 
2017— 
Total shareholders’ equity

2,455,039 shares 
2,490,224 shares    

Accumulated other comprehensive income: 

Valuation difference on available-for-sale securities
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Remeasurements of defined benefit plans
Remeasurements of other postretirement benefits of foreign consolidated subsidiaries

Total accumulated other comprehensive income

Non-controlling interests
Total net assets

Total liabilities and net assets 
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these balance sheets.

 Millions of yen

2018

2017

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars
(Note 1)
2018

¥320,137
64,863
22,082
42,982
255,914
24,131
34,743
45,372
3,098
64,711
172,973
1,051,006

21,138
19,337
35,801
20,305
175,703
272,284

¥349,737
92,098
43,205
44,443
221,328
23,678
59,259
13,858
3,317
-
162,815
1,013,738

60,612
18,615
-
29,802
174,666
283,695

$3,012,487
610,360
207,791
404,460
2,408,149
227,073
326,931
426,950
29,152
608,930
1,627,676
9,889,959

198,908
181,961
336,887
191,070
1,653,365
2,562,191

純資産
←

153,795
160,197
1,283,539
(7,054)

153,795
160,178
1,173,277
(7,173)

1,447,210
1,507,453
12,078,094
(66,379)

1,590,477

1,480,077

14,966,378

7,038
(36,193)
(10,136)
1,658
(37,633)
8,179
1,561,023

8,099
(16,631)
(10,996)
(1,885)
(21,413)
6,224
1,464,888

66,227
(340,576)
(95,379)
15,602
(354,126)
76,964
14,689,216

¥2,884,313

¥2,762,321

$27,141,366

Consolidated Statements of Income
SUBARU CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

Net sales (Note 2)
Cost of sales (Note 14)
Gross profit

Selling, general and administrative expenses (Note 2 and 15)

Operating income
Other income (expenses):

Interest and dividend income
Interest expenses
Equity in earnings of affiliates
Foreign exchange gains (losses)
Gain (loss) on valuation of derivatives
Gain (loss) on sales and retirement of noncurrent assets 
Gain (loss) on sales of investment securities (Note 6)
Depreciation
Cost of Settlement
Impairment loss (Note 9)
Loss on related to airbags(Note 16)
Loss on business liquidation(Note 16)
Other, net 

Income before income taxes

Income taxes (Note 12):

Current
Deferred

Net income

Net income  attributable to non-controlling Interests

Net income attributable to owners of the parent

106.27

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars
(Note 1)
2018
$32,043,107
22,985,847
9,057,260
5,486,666
3,570,594

77,030
(12,976)
7,321
(69,587)
21,323
(45,516)
43,455
(9,645)
-
(292)
(764,665)
-
(19,075)
(772,627)
2,797,967

1,064,788
(353,384)
711,404
2,086,563

13,033

Millions of yen

2017
¥3,325,992
2,386,266
939,726
528,916
410,810

4,616
(1,846)
292
(4,800)
(4,248)
(3,270)
10,144
(956)
(7,659)
(1,188)
-
(5,122)
(2,078)
(16,115)
394,695

123,591
(12,448)
111,143
283,552

1,198

2018
¥3,405,221
2,442,706
962,515
583,068
379,447

8,186
(1,379)
778
(7,395)
2,266
(4,837)
4,618
(1,025)
-
(31)
(81,261)
-
(2,027)
(82,107)
297,340

113,155
(37,554)
75,601
221,739

1,385

¥220,354

¥282,354

$2,073,530

Per share data (Note 2) :

Net income

—Basic 
—Diluted *

Net assets 
Cash dividends (Note 13) 

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

Yen

¥365.77
-
1,902.56
¥144.00

U.S. dollars
(Note 1)

$2.70
-
19.06
$1.36

¥287.40
-
2,025.31
¥144.00

*For the year ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 diluted information is not presented because potentially dilutive securities do not exist.

Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income(loss)
SUBARU CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

Net Income
Other comprehensive income(loss) (Note 3)

Valuation difference on available-for-sale securities
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Remeasurements of defined benefit plans
Remeasurements of other postretirement benefits of  foreign consolidated subsidiaries
Share of other comprehensive income (loss) of associates accounted for using equity method
Total other comprehensive income(loss)

Comprehensive income(loss)
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to:

Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interests

2018
¥221,739

(1,061)
(18,985)
860
3,543
(54)
(15,697)

Millions of yen
2017
¥283,552

(3,245)
(2,968)
1,812
984
(783)
(4,200)

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars
(Note 1)
2018
$2,086,563

(9,985)
(178,649)
8,093
33,340
(508)
(147,709)

206,042

¥279,352

$1,938,854

204,449
¥1,593

278,689
¥663

1,923,864
$14,990

Consolidated Statements of Changes in Net Assets
SUBARU CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
As of March 31, 2018 and 2017

106.27

Shareholders' equity

Capital stock

Balance at the beginning of current period
Balance at the end of current period

Capital surplus

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Disposal of treasury stock
Retirement of treasury shares
Transfer to capital surplus from retained earnings
Other
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

Retained earnings

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Dividends from surplus
Net income attributable to owners of the parent
Disposal of treasury stock
Adjustments due to change in fiscal year end of consolidated subsidiaries
Change of scope of consolidation
Change of scope of equity method
Transfer to capital surplus from retained earnings
Other
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

Treasury stock

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Purchase of treasury stock
Disposal of treasury stock
Retirement of treasury shares
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

Total shareholders' equity

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Dividends from surplus
Net income attributable to owners of the parent
Purchase of treasury stock
Disposal of treasury stock
Adjustments due to change in fiscal year end of consolidated subsidiaries
Change of scope of consolidation
Change of scope of equity method
Other
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

Millions of yen

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars
(Note 1)

2018

2017

2018

¥153,795
153,795

160,178

19
-
-
-
19
160,197

¥153,795
153,795

$1,447,210
1,447,210

160,071

1,507,274

1
(46,973)
46,972
107
107
160,178

179
-
-
-
179
1,507,453

1,173,277

1,049,016

11,040,529

(110,463)
220,354
-
828
(355)
922
-
(1,024)
110,262
1,283,539

(7,173)

(11)
130
-
119
(7,054)

(111,446)
282,354
(1)
-
-
325
(46,972)
1
124,261
1,173,277

(1,402)

(52,744)
0
46,973
(5,771)
(7,173)

(1,039,456)
2,073,530
-
7,791
(3,341)
8,676
-
(9,635)
1,037,565
12,078,094

(67,498)

(104)
1,223
-
1,119
(66,379)

1,480,077

1,361,480

13,927,515

(110,463)
220,354
(11)
149
828
(355)
922
(1,024)
110,400
¥1,590,477

(111,446)
282,354
(52,744)
0
-
-
325
108
118,597
¥1,480,077

(1,039,456)
2,073,530
(104)
1,402
7,791
(3,341)
8,676
(9,635)
1,038,863
$14,966,378

Accumulated other comprehensive income

Valuation difference on available-for-sale securities

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Net changes of items other than shareholders' equity
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period
Foreign currency translation adjustments

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Net changes of items other than shareholders' equity
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period
Remeasurements of defined benefit plans

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Net changes of items other than shareholders' equity
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

Remeasurements of other postretirement benefits
   of foreign consolidated subsidiaries

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Net changes of items other than shareholders' equity
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

Total accumulated other comprehensive income

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Net changes of items other than shareholders' equity
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

Non-controlling interests

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Net changes of items other than shareholders' equity
Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

Total net assets

Millions of yen

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars
(Note 1)

2018

2017

2018

¥8,099

(1,061)
(1,061)
7,038

(16,631)

(19,562)
(19,562)
(36,193)

(10,996)

860
860
(10,136)

(1,885)

3,543
3,543
1,658

(21,413)

(16,220)
(16,220)
(37,633)

6,224

1,955
1,955
8,179

¥11,344

$76,212

(3,245)
(3,245)
8,099

(9,985)
(9,985)
66,227

(13,415)

(156,498)

(3,216)
(3,216)
(16,631)

(184,078)
(184,078)
(340,576)

(12,808)

(103,472)

1,812
1,812
(10,996)

(2,869)

984
984
(1,885)

8,093
8,093
(95,379)

(17,738)

33,340
33,340
15,602

(17,748)

(201,496)

(3,665)
(3,665)
(21,413)

5,679

545
545
6,224

(152,630)
(152,630)
(354,126)

58,568

18,396
18,396
76,964

Balance at the beginning of current period
Changes of items during the period
Dividends from surplus
Net income attributable to owners of the parent
Purchase of treasury stock
Disposal of treasury stock
Adjustments due to change in fiscal year end of consolidated subsidiaries
Change of scope of consolidation
Change of scope of equity method
Other
Net changes of items other than shareholders' equity

  Total changes of items during the period
Balance at the end of current period

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

1,464,888

1,349,411

13,784,587

(110,463)
220,354
(11)
149
828
(355)
922
(1,024)
(14,265)
96,135
¥1,561,023

(111,446)
282,354
(52,744)
0
-
-
325
108
(3,120)
115,477
¥1,464,888

(1,039,456)
2,073,530
(104)
1,402
7,791
(3,341)
8,676
(9,635)
(134,234)
904,629
$14,689,216

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
SUBARU CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES
Years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

Income before income taxes
Depreciation and amortization
Increase (decrease) in allowance for doubtful accounts
Increase (decrease) in provision for loss related to airbags
Interest and dividends income
Interest expenses
Loss (gain) on sales and retirement of noncurrent assets
Loss (gain) on sales and valuation of investment securities
Decrease (increase) in operating loans receivable
Decrease (increase) in notes and accounts receivable-trade
Decrease (increase) in inventories
Increase (decrease) in notes and accounts payable-trade

Increase (decrease) in accrued expenses
Other, net

Interest and dividends income received
Interest expenses paid
Income taxes paid

Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities

    Sub-total

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

Net decrease (increase) in time deposits
Purchase of short-term investment securities
Proceeds from sales of short-term investment securities
Purchase of non-current assets
Proceeds from sales of non-current assets
Purchase of investment securities
Proceeds from sales of investment securities
Payments of loans receivable
Collection of loans receivable
Other, net

Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

Net increase (decrease) in short-term loans payable
Proceeds from long-term loans payable
Repayments of long-term loans payable
Redemption of bonds
Purchase of treasury shares
Cash dividends paid
Other, net

Effect of exchange rate change on cash and cash equivalents
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period(Note 4)
Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents resulting 

from change of scope of consolidation

Increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents resulting 
from change in fiscal period of consolidated subsidiaries

Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period(Note 4)
The accompanying notes are an integral part of these statements.

106.27

Millions of yen

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars
(Note 1)

2018

2017

2018

¥297,340
102,102
(149)
64,711
(8,186)
1,379
4,837
(4,096)
(7,799)
40
(15,922)
(54,159)
40,158

20,336
440,592
8,397
(1,446)
(81,245)
366,298

(7,219)
(143,418)
168,525
(149,897)
3,413
(52,645)
34,272
(123,552)
120,383
(573)
(150,711)

(18,393)
3,500
(44,443)
-
(11)
(110,326)
(1,264)
(170,937)
(10,831)
33,819

¥394,695
85,653
(189)
-
(4,616)
1,846
3,270
(9,322)
(3,898)
(19,684)
(32,444)
24,458
88,159

22,320
550,248
5,236
(1,852)
(208,190)
345,442

(25,809)
(135,061)
98,133
(163,774)
1,327
(48,705)
46,585
(137,006)
117,687
(7,629)
(254,252)

9,939
12,930
(34,605)
(10,000)
(52,744)
(111,435)
(3,129)
(189,044)
(2,991)
(100,845)

$2,797,967
960,779
(1,402)
608,930
(77,030)
12,976
45,516
(38,543)
(73,389)
376
(149,826)
(509,636)
377,887

191,363
4,145,968
79,016
(13,607)
(764,515)
3,446,862

(67,931)
(1,349,562)
1,585,819
(1,410,530)
32,116
(495,389)
322,499
(1,162,624)
1,132,803
(5,391)
(1,418,190)

(173,078)
32,935
(418,208)
-
(104)
(1,038,167)
(11,894)
(1,608,516)
(101,919)
318,237

728,616

829,461

6,856,272

(534)

3,690
¥765,591

-

(5,025)

-
¥728,616

34,722
$7,204,206

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements 
SUBARU CORPORATION AND CONSOLIDATED SUBSIDIARIES 

1. Basis of Presentation of the Financial Statements 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements of SUBARU CORPORATION (the "Company") have 
been prepared in accordance with the provisions set forth in the Financial Instruments and Exchange Law 
and its related accounting regulations, and in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in 
Japan ("Japanese GAAP"), which are different in certain respects as to application and disclosure 
requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards. 

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been restructured and translated into English 
from the consolidated financial statements of the Company prepared in accordance with Japanese GAAP 
and filed with the appropriate Local Finance Bureau of the Ministry of Finance, as required by the Financial 
Instruments and Exchange Law. Certain supplementary information included in the statutory 
Japanese-language consolidated financial statements, but not considered necessary for fair presentation, is 
not presented in the accompanying consolidated financial statements. 

The translations of the Japanese yen amounts into U.S. dollars in the accompanying consolidated financial 
statements are included solely for the convenience of readers outside Japan, using the prevailing exchange 
rate at March 31, 2018, which was ¥106.27 to U.S. $1. The convenience translation should not be construed 
as a representation that the Japanese yen amounts have been, could have been, or could in the future be 
converted into U.S. dollars at this or any other rate of exchange. 

We  are  planning  to  voluntarily  adopt  International  Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRS)  to  the  Group's 
consolidated  financial  statements  from  the  fiscal  year  ending  March  31,  2020,  instead  of  the  Japanese 
Generally Accepted Accounting Principles currently adopted. 

2. Summary of Significant Accounting Policies 

[1] The Scope of Consolidation and Application of the Equity Method 
The accompanying consolidated financial statements include the accounts of the Company and its majority 
owned subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions and balances have been eliminated in 
consolidation. The fiscal year-end of consolidated subsidiaries is the same as that of the parent company, 
except for 4 consolidated foreign subsidiaries in fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, the fiscal year-end of those 
subsidiaries was December 31. The operating results of those subsidiaries that had different fiscal 
year-end were consolidated by using the financial statements as of each subsidiary’s respective fiscal 
year-end, the necessary adjustments being made in consolidation if there were any significant 
transactions between January 1 and March 31. 

To synchronize the reporting period, Subaru of China Ltd. changed its reporting period for consolidation 
purposes by conducting a provisional book-closing from the consolidated fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. 
This change allows the consolidated financial statements as of and for the 12 months period ended March 31, 
2018 to include the financial information of Subaru of China Ltd. in the same period. Net operating results of 
Subaru of China Ltd. from January 1, 2017 to March 31, 2017 have been reflected as a change in retained 
earnings in the consolidated financial statement. 

The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of 75 and 77 subsidiaries in the fiscal years 

ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

In addition, 8 and 2 affiliated companies were accounted for by the equity method in the fiscal years ended 

March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. 

Investments in insignificant non-consolidated subsidiaries and affiliated companies not accounted for by the 

equity method are carried at cost.   

1 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[2] Short-Term Investment Securities and Investment Securities 
Under the Japanese accounting standards for financial instruments, available-for-sale securities for which fair 
values are available are stated at their fair value as of the balance sheet dates with unrealized holding gains 
and losses included as a separate component of net assets until realized, while securities for which fair values 
are not readily available are stated at cost, as determined by the moving-average method, after taking into 
consideration devaluation, if any, for permanent impairment. Held-to-maturity debt securities are stated using 
the amortized cost method. 

[3] Inventories 
Inventories for regular sales are stated at cost, determined mainly by the moving-average cost method. (Book 
value on the balance sheet is measured based on the lower of cost or market value.)   

[4] Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Leased Assets) 
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost. Significant renewals and additions are capitalized; ordinary 
maintenance, ordinary repairs, minor renewals and minor improvements are charged to the consolidated 
statements of income as incurred. 

Depreciation of the property, plant and equipment of the Company and its consolidated domestic 

subsidiaries is principally calculated by the declining-balance method, except for those buildings (excluding 
facilities attached to buildings) acquired on or after April 1,1998, and facilities attached to buildings and 
structures acquired on or after April 1, 2016 for which the straight-line method is applied. 

Depreciation of the property, plant and equipment of consolidated foreign subsidiaries is calculated by the 

straight-line method over the estimated useful lives of the assets. 
Estimated useful lives for depreciable assets are as follows: 

Buildings and structures: 7–50 years 
Machinery, equipment and vehicles: 2–20 years 

[5] Intangible Assets (Excluding Leased Assets) 
Computer software used internally by the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries is amortized by the 
straight-line method over the relevant economic useful lives of 3 or 5 years. 

[6] Leased Assets 
For leased assets under finance lease transactions in which the ownership is transferred to the lessee: 

The leased assets are depreciated by the same method as used for other property, plant and equipment. 
For leased assets under finance lease transactions in which the ownership is not transferred to the lessee: 
The leased assets are depreciated by the straight-line method over the leased period and the residual 
value is zero. 

[7] Allowance for Doubtful Accounts 
Allowance for doubtful accounts is provided based on the amount calculated from the historical ratio of bad 
debt for ordinary receivables, and estimated amounts of uncollectible accounts for specific overdue 
receivables. 

[8] Provision for Bonuses 
Employees' bonuses are recognized as expenses for the period in which those are incurred. 

[9] Provision for Product Warranties 
The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries provide for accrued warranty claims on products sold based 
on their past experiences of warranty services and estimated future warranty costs. 

2 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[10] Provision for Loss on business liquidation 
The provision for losses on business liquidation is provided due to important business liquidation. 

[11] Provision for loss related to airbags 
The provision for losses on quality-assurance expenses is provided for the market measures relating to 
airbags in the future.   

[12] Accounting method for Retirement Benefits 
Net defined benefit liability (assets) for employees is provided based on the estimated amounts of projected 
pension and severance obligation and the fair value of plan assets at the end of the fiscal year. In determining 
retirement benefit obligations, the straight-line basis is used for attributing expected benefit to periods. 

Unrecognized prior service cost is being amortized on the straight-line method over a period (13-18 years) 

that is shorter than the average remaining service period of the eligible employees. Unrecognized net 
actuarial gain or loss is amortized from the following fiscal year on the straight-line method over a period 
(primarily 16 years) that is shorter than the average remaining service period of the eligible employees. 

Directors and statutory auditors of the Company and its consolidated domestic subsidiaries are entitled to 

receive a lump-sum payment at the time of severance or retirement, subject to shareholder approval. The 
liabilities for such benefits, which are determined, based on the Company’s and its consolidated subsidiaries’ 
internal rules are included in "Other long-term liabilities" in the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. 

[13] Translation of Foreign Currency-Denominated Accounts 
Under the Japanese accounting standards for foreign currency translation, monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies are translated into Japanese yen at the exchange rates prevailing at each 
balance sheet date with the resulting gain or loss included currently in the statement of income. 

The assets and liabilities of foreign subsidiaries and affiliated companies are translated into Japanese yen 
at the exchange rates in effect at the balance sheet dates of the foreign subsidiaries and affiliated companies, 
except for common stock and capital surplus, which are translated at historical rates. Revenue and expense 
accounts are translated at the average exchange rates during the respective years. The resulting foreign 
currency translation adjustments are included in "Foreign currency translation adjustments" and 
"Non-controlling interests" in the net assets section of the accompanying consolidated balance sheets. 

[14] Revenue Recognition 
The percentage-of-completion method is applied to revenue from construction contracts of Aerospace 
division productions where certain elements are determinable with certainty at the end of fiscal year. (The 
percentage of completion is estimated using the proportion-of-cost method). The completed-contract method 
is applied to other works. 

[15] Accounting for Lease Transactions 
Sales and corresponding cost of sales under finance lease transactions conducted by certain domestic 
consolidated subsidiaries are recognized on the effective date of each lease contract. 

[16] Derivative Financial Instruments 
The Japanese accounting standards for financial instruments require that the Company and its consolidated 
domestic subsidiaries state derivative financial instruments at their fair value and recognize changes in the fair 
value as a gain or loss. 

[17] Goodwill 
Goodwill is principally amortized by the straight-line method over 5 years. 

3 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[18] Cash and Cash Equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents include all highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less 
that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and have negligible risk of changes in value due to their 
short maturities. 

[19] Income Taxes 
The provision for income taxes is computed based on the pretax income for financial reporting purposes. 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for expected future tax consequences of temporary 
differences between the financial statement carrying amounts and the tax bases of assets and liabilities. A 
valuation allowance is recorded to reduce deferred tax assets when it is more likely than not that a tax benefit 
will not be realized. 

[20] Research and Development Expenses 
Research and development costs are expensed as incurred and amounted to 121,084 million yen 
(US$ 1,139,400 thousand) and 114,215 million yen for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, 
respectively. 

[21] Net Income per Share 
Basic net income per share (EPS) is computed based on the average number of shares of common stock 
outstanding during each year. Diluted EPS assumes the potential dilution that occurs if all the convertible 
securities are converted or other contracts to issue common stock are exercised to the extent that they are 
not anti-dilutive. 

[22] Changes in Accounting Estimates   
(Provision for product warranties) 
In the current consolidated fiscal year, there was a change in accounting estimate due to the fact that the 
expenses for after-sales services in the future can be estimated more precisely. 

The effect of this change on profit and loss for current consolidated fiscal year is immaterial.	

[23] Changes in Presentation 
(Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows) 
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 include the following 
reclassifications. 

“Increase (decrease) in provision for loss on business liquidation”, which was presented as a separate item 

in “Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities”, is included in “Other, net” in “Net cash provided by 
(used in) operating activities” in the current fiscal year due to its decreased financial materiality. 

In addition, “Dividends paid to non-controlling interests”, which was presented as a separate item in “Net 
cash provided by (used in) financing activities”, is included in “Other, net” in “Net cash provided by (used in) 
financing activities” in the current fiscal year due to its decreased financial materiality. 

To reflect these changes, 3,317 million yen of “Increase (decrease) in provision for loss on business 
liquidation” has been reclassified into “Other, net” in “Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities”, in 
addition, (1,944) million yen of “Dividends paid to non-controlling interests” has been reclassified into “Other, 
net” in “Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities”. 

As a result, “Other, net” in “Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities” is 22,320 million yen. In 

addition, “Other, net” in “Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities” is (3,129) million yen.   

4 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3. Other comprehensive income 
Amounts reclassified to net income (loss) for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, which were 
recognized in other comprehensive income in the current or previous periods and tax effects for each 
component of other comprehensive income were as follows: 

Millions of yen 

2018 

2017 

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
2018 

Valuation  difference  on  available-for-sale 
securities 

Increase(decrease) during the year 
Reclassification adjustments   
Before tax effect 
Tax effect 
Balance at the end of the period 

Foreign currency translation adjustments 
Increase(decrease) during the year 
Reclassification adjustments   
Before tax effect 
Tax effect 
Balance at the end of the period 

Remeasurements of defined benefit plans 
Increase(decrease) during the year 
Reclassification adjustments 
Before tax effect 
Tax effect 
Balance at the end of the period 

Remeasurements  of  other  postretirement 
benefits of foreign consolidated   
subsidiaries 

Increase(decrease) during the year 
Reclassification adjustments 
Before tax effect 
Tax effect 
Balance at the end of the period 

Share of other comprehensive income   
of affiliated companies accounted for using   
equity method 

Increase(decrease) during the year 
Reclassification adjustments 
Before tax effect 
Tax effect 
Balance at the end of the period 
Total other comprehensive 
income(loss) 

¥1,815   
(4,243) 
(2,428) 
1,367 
(1,061) 

(18,985) 
- 
(18,985) 
- 
(18,985) 

(933) 
2,135   
1,202   
(342) 
860   

4,932   
- 
4,932   
(1,389) 
3,543   

¥5,003   
(9,572) 
(4,569) 
1,324 
(3,245) 

(2,968) 
- 
(2,968) 
- 
(2,968) 

(109) 
2,553   
2,444   
(632) 
1,812   

1,595   
- 
1,595   
(611) 
984   

$17,080   
(39,927) 
(22,847) 
12,862 
(9,985) 

(178,649) 
-   
(178,649) 
-   
(178,649) 

(8,779) 
20,090   
11,311   
(3,218) 
8,093   

46,410   

- 

46,410   
(13,070) 
33,340   

(54) 
- 
(54) 
- 
(54) 
(¥15,697) 

(639) 
(144) 
(783) 
- 
(783) 
(¥4,200) 

(508) 
- 
(508) 
-   
(508) 
($147,709) 

5 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
4. Additional Cash Flow Information 
Cash and cash equivalents as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, consisted of the following: 
Millions of yen 

Cash and deposits 
Short-term investment securities 

  Sub-total 

Less maturity over three months 
Short-term investment securities excluding 
cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents 

2018 
¥765,397   
242,573   
1,007,970   
(158,576) 
(83,803) 

2017 
¥658,822   
320,579   
979,401   
(151,924) 
(98,861) 

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$7,202,381   
2,282,610 
9,484,991   
(1,492,199) 
(788,586) 

¥765,591   

¥728,616   

$7,204,206   

5. Financial Instruments 
(1) Summary of Financial Instruments Status 
[1] Action Policy with Regard to Financial Instruments 
With regard to planned capital expenditure to support SUBARU CORPORATION, its consolidated 
subsidiaries and affiliated companies (the "SUBARU Group") in their main operations of automobile 
manufacturing and sales, the SUBARU Group finances mainly from bank loans. Temporary surpluses are 
invested in highly secure financial assets. Bank loans and liquidation of accounts receivable are utilized to 
provide short-term working capital. It is the SUBARU Group's policy to use derivatives as a way to avoid the 
risks stated below and not to conduct speculative transactions. 

[2] Details of Financial Instruments and Respective Risks 
Notes and accounts receivable-trade and Lease investment assets are subject to customer credit risks. In 
addition, operating receivables denominated in foreign currencies due to globalized business of the SUBARU 
Group are subject to the risk of changes in foreign exchange rates. As a general rule, however, forward 
foreign exchange contracts are utilized to hedge the foreign exchange rate risk, considering the net amount of 
operating receivables denominated in foreign currencies that exceed foreign currency denominated operating 
liabilities.	Short-term investment securities mainly consist of investments in short-term financial instruments, 
and investment securities mainly consist of investments in stocks of the companies with business or capital 
alliances, and are subject to risk of market price fluctuation. 

Payables included in Notes and accounts payable-trade and electronically recorded obligations-operating 
are due within one year. A certain portion of such liabilities involve foreign currency denominated transactions 
associated with the import of raw materials and is subject to exchange rate fluctuation risk, although it is 
consistently less than accounts receivable balance denominated in the same foreign currency. Funds 
financed by bank loans and corporate bonds are primarily used for capital expenditure, whose repayment or 
redemption dates will come within 6 years after March 31, 2018 at the latest.   

Derivative transactions include foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against exchange rate 
fluctuations associated with trade accounts receivables and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies.   

[3] Risk Management System with Regard to Financial Instruments 

(a) Credit Risk management (Risks Associated with Business Partner’s Breach of Contract) 

The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have credit control function and regularly monitor the 
financial status of key customers with regard to accounts receivables and lease investment assets. In 
addition to keeping track of payment due dates and balances of each customer, such credit control 
function identifies and mitigates the potential risk of uncollectibility due to deterioration in financial status 
or other factors of customers. 

6 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
(b) Market Risk Management (Risks Associated with Fluctuations in Foreign Exchange and Interest Rates) 
With regard to operating assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies, as a general rule, the 
Company uses foreign exchange forward contracts to hedge against risks of exchange rate fluctuation 
on a monthly basis by each currency. Depending on the status of exchange rates, foreign exchange 
forward contracts with no longer than six months term are used to hedge against the risk of exchange 
rate fluctuation to the extent that net position of accounts receivable and accounts payable dominated in 
foreign currency is exposed.   

The Company also regularly monitors the market values of investments included in Short-term 

investment securities and Investment securities as well as the financial conditions of issuers (business 
partner companies), and continuously reviews its investment portfolio taking into consideration its 
relationships with respective business partner companies.   

Basic policies with regard to derivative transactions are approved by the Executive Management 
Board. Finance & Accounting Department engages in derivative transactions in line with the applicable 
the Company’s rule. The results of these transactions are reported to the Finance Officer every time the 
transactions are conducted. 

(c) Liquidity Risk Management (Risk of Becoming Unable to Make Payments by the Due Date)     

The Company secures liquidity at a level sufficient to satisfy its current needs with commitment lines 

contracted with major financial institutions in combination with keeping cash and cash equivalents 
balance at a certain level. 

[4] Supplemental Explanation of Items with Regard to Fair Value of Financial Instruments 
Fair value of financial instruments includes quoted prices of financial instruments in the market and, in the 
event market prices are not available, prices that are calculated based on the underlying assumptions under 
the appropriate valuation model. Because the factors incorporated into the valuation model are subject to 
change, calculated fair value may differ. The values of derivative transactions contracts stated in "(2) Items 
with Regard to Fair Value of Financial Instruments" do not by themselves indicate the market risk associated 
with the respective derivative transactions. 

7 

 
 
 
 
 
(2) Items with Regard to Fair Value of Financial Instruments 
The consolidated balance sheet amounts, the fair value and difference as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 were 
as follows: 

The items whose fair values were extremely difficult to measure were not included in the table below (refer 

to Note [2]). 

As of March 31, 2018 

Consolidated 
balance sheet 
amounts 

¥765,397   
155,247   
(60) 
155,187   
17,120   
(3) 
17,117   
185,364   
(274) 
185,090   

129,886 
1,252,677   
320,137   
64,863 
22,082 
42,982 
45,372 
255,914 
21,138 
772,488   

Millions  of  yen 

Fair Value 

Difference 

¥765,397   

155,187 

¥- 

- 

18,766   

1,649 

192,393 

7,303 

129,886 
1,261,629     
320,137   
64,863 
22,082 
43,042 
45,372 
255,914 
21,208 
772,618   

- 
8,952 
- 
- 
- 
60 
-   
-   
70 
130 

- 
¥- 

5,177     
¥- 

5,177 
¥- 

Cash and deposits 
Notes and accounts receivable-trade 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Lease investment assets 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Short-term loans receivable 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Short-term investment securities, Investment securities 
and Other securities 

Total Assets 
Notes and accounts payable-trade 
Electronically recorded obligations-operating 
Short-term loans payable 
Current portion of long-term loans payable 
Accrued income taxes 
Accrued expenses 
Long-term loans payable 

Total Liabilities 

Derivative transactions (*2) 

hedge accounting is not applied 
hedge accounting is applied 

8 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2018 

Cash and deposits 
Notes and accounts receivable-trade 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Lease investment assets 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Short-term loans receivable 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Short-term investment securities, Investment securities 
and Other securities 

Total Assets 
Notes and accounts payable-trade 
Electronically recorded obligations-operating 
Short-term loans payable 
Current portion of long-term loans payable 
Accrued income taxes 
Accrued expenses 
Long-term loans payable 

Total Liabilities 

Derivative transactions (*2) 

hedge accounting is not applied 
hedge accounting is applied 

Thousands  of  U.S.  dollars 

Fair Value   

Difference 

Consolidated 
balance sheet 
amounts 

$7,202,381    $7,202,381     

$- 

1,460,873   
(564) 
1,460,309   
161,099   
(28) 
161,071   
1,744,274   
(2,578) 
1,741,696   

1,460,309     

- 

176,588 

15,517 

1,810,417 

68,721     

1,222,226 
1,222,226     
11,787,683    11,871,921     
3,012,487   
3,012,487   
610,360   
610,360   
207,791   
207,791   
405,025   
404,460   
426,950   
426,950   
2,408,149   
2,408,149   
199,567     
198,908     

7,269,105      7,270,329 

-   
84,238     
-   
-   
-   
565   
-   
-   
659 
1,224 

48,716     

48,716     

$- 

$- 

- 
$- 

*1. Allowance for doubtful accounts corresponding to Notes and accounts receivable-trade, Lease 
investment assets and Short-term loans receivable is deducted.   
*2. Indicated are the net amounts of assets and liabilities results from derivative transactions, with the 
total net liabilities indicated in (    ). 

9 

 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
As of March 31, 2017 

Cash and deposits 
Notes and accounts receivable-trade 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Lease investment assets 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Short-term loans receivable 

Allowance for doubtful accounts (*1) 

Short-term investment securities, Investment securities 
and Other securities 

Total Assets 
Notes and accounts payable-trade 
Electronically recorded obligations-operating 
Short-term loans payable 
Current portion of long-term loans payable 
Accrued income taxes 
Accrued expenses 
Long-term loans payable 

Total Liabilities 

Derivative transactions (*2) 

hedge accounting is not applied 
hedge accounting is applied 

Consolidated 
balance sheet 
amounts 

¥658,822   
158,454   
(88) 
158,366   
18,538   
(21) 
18,517   
176,433   
(250) 
176,183   

122,272 
1,134,160   
349,737   
92,098   
43,205   
44,443   
13,858   
221,328   
60,612   
825,281   

Millions  of  yen 

Fair Value 

Difference 

¥658,822   

158,366 

¥- 

- 

20,065   

1,548 

181,938 

5,755 

122,272 
1,141,463     
349,737   
92,098   
43,205   
44,442   
13,858   
221,328   
60,913   
825,581   

- 
7,303 
- 
- 
- 
(1) 
-   
-   
301 
300 

- 
¥- 

2,911     
¥- 

2,911 
¥- 

*1. Allowance for doubtful accounts corresponding to Notes and accounts receivable-trade, Lease 
investment assets and Short-term loans receivable is deducted.   
*2. Indicated are the net amounts of assets and liabilities results from derivative transactions, with the 
total net liabilities indicated in (    ). 

[1] The calculation methods of financial instrument fair value together with securities 

Assets 
Cash and deposits and Notes and accounts receivable-trade 

Because these are settled in the short-term, the fair value is mostly the same as the book value and 
as such the book value is deemed as fair value. 

Lease investment assets and Short-term loans receivable 

Fair value is the present value calculated by discounting relevant cash flows by each category of the 
assets and timing of cash flow, where discount rates were adopted taking into consideration the 
period until maturity and credit risks. In addition, the estimated residual value is included in the 
balance of Lease investment assets. 

10 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
Short-term investment securities and investment securities 

Fair value is determined by the stock exchange price, while bonds are determined by the stock 
exchange price or by quotations received from financial institutions. Please refer to the note entitled 
"6.Short-term investment securities and investment securities" regarding to respective objectives for 
holding securities. 

Liabilities 
Notes and accounts payable-trade, Electronically recorded obligations-operating, Short-term loans 
payable, Accrued income taxes and Accrued expenses   

Because these are settled in the short-term, the fair value is mostly the same as the book value and 
as such the book value is deemed as fair value. 

Current portion of long-term loans payable and Long-term loans payable 

Fair value is measured based on the present value that is calculated as discounted cash flow of the 
total amount of principal and interest, where the interest would be set, if the Company concluded a 
brand new loan agreement with the same condition at the date of measurement. 

[2] Financial instruments which fair value is extremely difficult to measure 
Consolidated balance sheet amount as of March 31, 2018 and 2017: 

Stocks of non-consolidated subsidiary and affiliated 
companies 
Other securities (available-for-sale securities) 

Certificate of deposit 
Commercial paper 
Money management fund 
Unlisted stocks (excluding over-the-counter 
stocks) 
Medium Term Note 
Trust beneficiary right 
Other 

Investments and other assets 

Investments in equity of affiliated companies and 
others 

2018 
¥6,501   

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥1,232   

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$61,174   

55,000   
17,499   
116,270   
874   

20,000   
10,000 
3   

135,000   
42,499   
104,218   
866   

20,000   
- 
3   

517,550   
164,665   
1,094,100   
8,224   

188,200   
94,100   
28   

¥1,090   

¥1,661   

$10,257     

These have no available market prices and are expected to entail excessive costs in the estimation of 
future cash flows. Consequently, estimating their fair value is recognized as extremely difficult and they 
are not included in "Short-term investment securities” and “Investment securities". 

11 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[3] Scheduled redemption of monetary assets and securities with maturity 
As of March 31, 2018: 

Cash and deposits 
Notes and accounts receivable-trade 
Lease investment assets 
Short-term loans receivable 
Short-term investment securities, Investment 
securities and Other securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 
Other 

As of March 31, 2018: 

Cash and deposits 
Notes and accounts receivable-trade 
Lease investment assets 
Short-term loans receivable 
Short-term investment securities, Investment 
securities and Other securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 
Other 

As of March 31, 2017: 

Cash and deposits 
Notes and accounts receivable-trade 
Lease investment assets 
Short-term loans receivable 
Short-term investment securities, Investment 
securities and Other securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 
Other 

Within 1 
Year 
¥765,397 
144,170 
6,626 
71,620 

1 to 5 
Years 
¥- 
11,077 
10,471 
112,068 

17,013 
6,632 
102,658 

18,337 
26,315 
1,732 

Millions of yen 

5 to 10 
Years 
¥- 
- 
23 
1,676 

7,018 
4,160 
923 

Over 10 
years 
¥- 
- 
- 
- 

4,793 
5,271 
6,526 

Within 1 
Year 
$7,202,381   
1,356,639   
62,351   

1 to 5 
Years 
$- 
104,234   
98,532   
673,944    1,054,559   

Thousands of U.S. dollars 
Over 10 
years 
$-   
- 
- 
- 

5 to 10 
Years 
$-   
-   
216   
15,771   

160,092   
62,407   
$966,011   

172,551   
247,624   
$16,298   

66,039   
39,146   
$8,685   

45,102   
49,600   
$61,410   

Within 1 
Year 
¥658,822 
145,641 
6,136 
73,229 

1 to 5 
Years 
¥- 
12,813 
12,393 
101,058 

Millions of yen 
Over 10 
years 
¥- 
- 
- 
- 

5 to 10 
Years 
¥- 
- 
9 
2,146 

10,574 
8,270 
¥197,517 

17,959 
25,433 
¥1,175 

5,080 
4,939 
¥917 

3,594 
4,265 
¥5,595 

12 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
[4] Amount of repayment for long-term debt and other interest-bearing debt 
As of March 31, 2018: 

Short-term loans payable 
Long-term loans payable 

As of March 31, 2018: 

Short-term loans payable 
Long-term loans payable 

As of March 31, 2017: 

Short-term loans payable 
Long-term loans payable 

Within 1 
Year 
¥22,082 
¥42,982 

1 to 5 
Years 
¥- 
¥20,675 

Millions of yen 
Over 10 
years 
¥- 
¥- 

5 to 10 
Years 
¥- 
¥463 

Within 1 
Year 

$207,791     
$404,460   

1 to 5 
Years 
$-   
$194,552   

Thousands of U.S. dollars 
Over 10 
Years 
$- 
$-   

5 to 10 
Years 
$-   
$4,356   

Within 1 
Year 
¥43,205 
¥44,443 

1 to 5 
Years 
¥- 
¥58,774 

Millions of yen 
Over 10 
years 
¥- 
¥- 

5 to 10 
Years 
¥- 
¥1,838 

6. Short-Term Investment Securities and Investment Securities 
Information on the value of short-term investment securities and investment securities as of March 31, 2018 
and 2017 was as follows: 

(1) Other securities (available-for-sale securities): 
As of March 31, 2018: 

Book value exceeding acquisition cost: 

Equity securities   
Debt securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 

Other   

Sub-total 

Book value not exceeding acquisition cost: 

Equity securities 
Debt securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 

Other    

Sub-total 
Total 

Book value 

Acquisition cost 

Millions of yen 
Difference 

¥30,619 

¥19,748 

¥10,871 

4,356 
3,068 
1,027 
39,070 

4,326 
3,032 
1,016 
28,122 

389 

471 

42,805 
39,309 
8,313 
90,816 
¥129,886 

43,345 
40,023 
8,488 
92,327 
¥120,449 

30 
36 
11 
10,948 

(82) 

(540) 
(714) 
(175) 
(1,511) 
¥9,437 

13 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2018: 

Book value exceeding acquisition cost: 

Equity securities   
Debt securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 

Other   

Sub-total 

Book value not exceeding acquisition cost: 

Equity securities 
Debt securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 

Other    

Sub-total 
Total 

As of March 31, 2017: 

Book value exceeding acquisition cost: 

Equity securities   
Debt securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 

Other   

Sub-total 

Book value not exceeding acquisition cost: 

Equity securities 
Debt securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 

Other    

Sub-total 
Total 

Book value 

Acquisition cost   

Difference 

Thousands of U.S. dollars 

$288,125   

$185,829   

$102,296   

40,990 
28,870 
9,664 
367,649 

40,708 
28,531 
9,561 
264,629 

282   
339   
103   
103,020   

3,660 

4,432 

(772) 

402,795 
369,897 
78,225 
854,577 
$1,222,226   

407,876 
376,616 
79,872 
868,796 
$1,133,425   

(5,081) 
(6,719) 
(1,647) 
(14,219) 
$88,801   

Book value 

Acquisition cost 

Millions of yen 
Difference 

¥33,393 

¥21,153 

¥12,240 

17,369 
21,851 
3,370 
75,983 

17,259 
21,694 
3,329 
63,435 

1,062 

3,566 

19,837 
21,056 
4,334 
46,289 
¥122,272 

20,077 
21,301 
4,403 
49,347 
¥112,782 

110 
157 
41 
12,548 

(2,504) 

(240) 
(245) 
(69) 
(3,058) 
¥9,490 

14 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(2) Other securities (available-for-sale securities) sold during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 
2017: 
The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018: 

Equity securities 
Debt securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 
Other 

Total 

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018: 

Equity securities 
Debt securities 

Sales amount 

Total gains 

Total losses 

Millions of yen 

¥7,022 

¥4,399 

32,982 
19,794 
142,999 
¥202,797 

97 
119 
3 
¥4,618 

¥149 

254 
84 
35 
¥522 

Sales amount 

Total gains 

Total losses 

$66,077 

$41,395 

$1,402 

Thousands of U.S. dollars 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 
Other 

Total 

$310,360 
$186,261 
$1,345,620 
$1,908,318   

$913 
$1,120 
$28 
$43,456   

$2,390 
$790 
$329 
$4,911   

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2017: 

Sales amount 

Total gains 

Total losses 

Millions of yen 

Equity securities 
Debt securities 

Government and municipal bonds 
Corporate bonds 
Other 

Total 

¥23,650 

¥9,968 

28,576 
9,586 
82,906 
¥144,718 

128 
45 
3 
¥10,144 

¥419   

219   
45   
46   
¥729 

15 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
7. Short-Term Loans Payable and Long-Term Debts 
Short-term loans payable as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, consisted of the following: 

Millions of yen 
2017 

  Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
2018 

2018 

Bank loans with average interest rate of 2.03% and 1.40% 
per annum as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively 

¥22,082 

¥43,205 

$207,791 

Long-term debts as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 consisted of the following: 

Loans principally from banks and insurance companies 
due through 2024 with average interest rate of 0.48% and 
0.51% per annum as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, 
respectively 
Subtotal 

Less-Portion due within one year 

Total 

Millions of yen 
2017 

  Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
2018 

2018 

¥64,120 

¥105,055 

$603,368 

64,120 
(42,982) 
¥21,138 

105,055 
(44,443) 
¥60,612 

603,368 
(404,460) 
$198,908     

Annual maturities of long-term loans payable as of March 31, 2018 were as follows: 

2019 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 and thereafter 

Total 

Millions of yen 
¥42,982 
7,872 
7,300 
4,121 
1,382 
463 
¥64,120 

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
$404,460 
74,075 
68,693 
38,779 
13,005 
4,356 
$603,368     

Lease obligations as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 consisted of the following: 

Lease obligations due within one year as of March 31, 2018 
Lease obligations due after one year as of March 31, 2018 

Total 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥1,189 
1,765 
¥2,954 

2018 
¥1,157 
1,810 
¥2,967 

Thousands 
of 
U.S.dollars 
2018 
$10,887   
17,032 
$27,919   

16 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual maturities of lease obligations as of March 31, 2018 were as follows: 

2019 
2020 
2021 
2022 
2023 
2024 and thereafter 

Total 

Millions of yen 
¥1,157 
1,484 
152 
113 
46 
15 
¥2,967 

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
10,887 
13,964 
1,430 
1,063 
433 
142 
$27,919   

The following assets as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 were pledged as collateral for certain loans: 

Property, plant and equipment 

Total 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥32,520 
¥32,520 

  Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$270,556 
$270,556   

2018 
¥28,752 
¥28,752 

To raise working capital efficiently, the SUBARU Group has entered into the commitment-line contracts. The 
maximum amount that can be made available under these contracts is 237,441 million yen (US$2,234,318 
thousand) as of March 31, 2018. At the end of the fiscal year, there were no borrowings under the 
commitment line. 

8. Derivative transactions 
In the normal course of business, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries employ derivative financial 
instruments, including foreign exchange forward contracts, foreign currency options and interest rate swaps, 
to manage their exposures to fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates and interest rates. The 
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries do not use derivatives for speculative or trading purposes. 
The fair value information of derivative financial instruments as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows: 

Derivative transactions to which hedge accounting is not applied 
(1) Foreign currency contracts: 
As of March 31, 2018 

Notional 
Amount 

Millions of yen 
Valuation 
Fair value  gain (loss) 

Thousands of U.S. dollars 
Valuation 
Fair value  gain (loss) 

Notional 
Amount 

Foreign exchange 
forward contracts: 

Sell- 

U.S. dollar 

              Euro 
              Canadian dollar 

Total 

¥254,467 
5,997 
25,349 
¥285,813 

¥4,163 
132 
882 
¥5,177 

¥4,163  $2,394,533 
56,432 
238,534 
¥5,177  $2,689,499 

132 
882 

$39,174 
1,242   
8,300   
$48,716 

$39,174   
1,242   
8,300   
$48,716 

17 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
As of March 31, 2017 

Foreign exchange forward contracts: 

Sell- 

U.S. dollar 

              Euro 
              Canadian dollar 

Total 

Notional 
Amount 

Fair value 

Millions of yen 
Valuation 
gain (loss) 

¥262,186 
3,421 
21,521 
¥287,128 

¥2,585 
11   
315   
¥2,911 

¥2,585 
11   
315   
¥2,911 

Note: The method to determine the fair value is based on quotations obtained from financial institutions. 

Derivative transactions to which hedge accounting is applied 
(1) Interest rate contracts: 
Accounting treatment: Exception processing of interest rate swap 
Hedge item: Long-term loans payable 

As of March 31, 2017 

Millions of yen 

Notional 
Amount 

Over 
1  year 

Fair value 

Interest rate swap contracts: 
Receive floating rate pay fixed rate 

(*) 
Note *Fair value of interest rate swap that meets certain hedging criteria is included in the fair value of 
long-term debt as a hedged item. 

¥1,000 

¥- 

9. Property, Plant and Equipment 

Property, plant and equipment as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 are summarized as follows: 

Buildings and structures 
Machinery, equipment and vehicles 
Vehicles and equipment on operating leases 
Other 
    Subtotal 
Land 
Construction in progress 
Accumulated depreciation 
Accumulated impairment loss 

Total 

2018 
¥441,879 
609,736 
22,648 
371,661 
1,445,924 
196,659   
55,908   
(968,876) 
(26,507) 
¥703,108 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥407,758 
603,416 
15,391 
354,599 
1,381,164 
195,783   
45,416   
(937,015) 
(28,083) 
¥657,265 

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$4,158,078   
5,737,612 
213,118 
3,497,327 
13,606,135 
1,850,560 
526,094 
(9,117,117) 
(249,431) 
$6,616,241   

18 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
10. Unexecuted Balance of Overdraft Facilities and Lending Commitments 
The unexecuted balance of overdraft facilities and lending commitments at a consolidated subsidiary (Subaru 
Finance Co., Ltd.) as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 was as follows: 

Total overdraft facilities and lending commitments 
Less amounts currently executed 
Unexecuted balance 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥4,800 
1,263 
¥3,537 

  Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$45,168   
15,404 
$29,764   

2018 
¥4,800 
1,637 
¥3,163 

A portion of the overdraft facilities and lending commitments above is subject to credit considerations as 

documented in the customer contracts. Therefore, the total balance above is not always available. 

11. Pension and Severance Plans 

The Company and its consolidated domestic subsidiaries have lump-sum retirement payment plans, 
contributory defined benefit employees’ welfare pension funds, defined benefit pension plan, and certain 
domestic subsidiaries have defined contribution pension plans. In addition, in certain occasions, additional 
retirement payments are made to employees for their retirement. Consolidated foreign subsidiaries primarily 
have defined contribution plans. 

As of March 31, 2018, 54 companies including the Company and its consolidated domestic subsidiaries 
have lump-sum retirement payment plans. Within the SUBARU Group, there are also 25 defined contribution 
plans, and 6 defined benefits pension plans. In addition, there are 2 single-employer employees’ welfare 
pension funds subject to the provisions of Article 33 of "Accounting Standard for Retirement Benefits." 

Certain insignificant consolidated subsidiaries calculated their pension liability using the simplified method. 

Under the simplified method, an accrued pension and net defined benefit liability is provided at the amount 
that would have been payable had all the employees voluntarily retired at the end of the fiscal year, less an 
amount to be covered from the plan assets, while the Company and significant subsidiaries provide an 
accrued pension and net defined benefit liability based on the estimated amount of pension and severance 
obligation (projected benefit obligations), less the fair value of plan assets at the end of the fiscal year under 
the actuarial method. 

Defined benefit pension plans (including the multi-employer pension plan of contributory defined benefit 

employees’ welfare pension funds settled as defined benefit pension plan.)   

Movement in retirement benefit obligation, except plans applied simplified method 

Balance at the beginning of the period 
a. Service cost 
b. Interest cost 
c. Actuarial loss (gain) 
d. Benefits paid 
e. Amortization of prior service cost       
f. Other 
Balance at the end of the period 

2018 
¥115,699 
6,563 
796 
1,446 
(4,620) 
-   
(47) 
¥119,837 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥116,331 
6,752 
679   
(3,149) 
(4,373) 
(15) 
(526) 
¥115,699 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$1,088,727 
61,758 
7,490   
13,607   
(43,474) 
- 
(443) 
$1,127,665   

19 

 
 
 
 
 
	
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
Movements in plan assets, except plans applied simplified method 

Balance at the beginning of the period 
a. Expected return on plan assets 
b. Actuarial loss (gain) 
c. Contributions paid by the employer 
d. Payment for retirement benefits 
e. Other 
Balance at the end of the period 

2018 
¥104,828 
1,917 
513 
3,441 
(2,929) 
-   
¥107,770 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥105,917 
1,953 
(3,258) 
3,290   
(2,886) 
(188) 
¥104,828 

Movement in net defined benefit liability in the plans applying the simplified method 

Balance at the beginning of the period 
a. Retirement benefit cost 
b. Benefits paid 
c. Contributions paid by the employer 
Balance at the end of the period 

2018 
¥6,813 
820 
(417) 
(28) 
¥7,188 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥6,398 
841   
(383) 
(43) 
¥6,813 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$986,431 
18,039 
4,827   
32,380   
(27,562) 
-   
$1,014,115   

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$64,110   
7,716 
(3,924) 
(263) 
$67,639   

Reconciliation from retirement benefit obligations and plan assets to net defined benefit liability (asset), 
include plans applied simplified method 

a. Funded retirement benefit obligations 
b. Plan assets 
    Sub total 
c. Unfunded retirement benefit 
obligations 
a+b+c. Total Net liability (asset) for 
retirement benefits   
d. Net defined benefit liability 
e. Net defined benefit asset 
d+e. Total Net liability (asset) for 
retirement benefits   

2018 
109,766 
(108,110) 
1,656   
17,599 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥105,901 
(105,157) 
744   
16,940   

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$1,032,897 
(1,017,314) 
15,583   
165,606     

19,255 

17,684   

181,189     

19,337 
(82) 
¥19,255 

18,615   
(931) 
¥17,684 

181,961   
(772) 
$181,189   

20 

 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Retirement benefit costs 

a. Service cost 
b. Interest cost 
c. Expected return on plan assets 
d. Net actuarial loss amortization 
e. Past service costs amortization 
f. Additional retirement payments   
g. Retirement benefit cost of the plan 
applying the simplified method 
h. Other 
Total retirement benefit costs for the fiscal 
year ended 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥6,752 
679   
(1,953) 
2,560   
(6) 
225   
841   

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$61,758 
7,490   
(18,039) 
20,156   
(56) 
3,218   
7,716   

(149) 
¥8,949   

-   
$82,243   

2018 
¥6,563 
796 
(1,917) 
2,142 
(6) 
342 
820 

-   
¥8,740 

Adjustments for retirement benefit (before tax effect)     

a. Past service costs 
b. Actuarial gains and losses 
Total   

2018 
(¥6) 
1,208 
¥1,202 

Millions of yen 
2017 
(¥21) 
2,465 
¥2,444 

Accumulated adjustments for retirement benefit (before tax effect)   

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
($56) 
11,367 
$11,311 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$2,578 

2018 
¥274 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥267 

14,290 

15,498   

134,469   

¥14,564 

¥15,765   

$137,047   

2018 
44% 
16% 
29% 
11% 
100% 

Percentage 
2017 
47% 
16% 
28% 
9% 
100% 

a. Past service costs that are yet to be 
recognized 
b. Actuarial gains and losses that are yet 
to be recognized 
Total   

Plan assets 

Plan assets comprise: 

a. Bonds 
b. Equity securities 
c. Cash and deposit 
d. Other 
Total 

Long-term expected rate of return 
Current and target asset allocations, historical and expected returns on various categories of plan assets have 
been considered in determining the long-term expected rate of return.   

21 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Actuarial assumptions 
The principal actuarial assumptions   

2018 

2017 

a. Attribution of expected benefit obligation  Benefit formula method 
b. Discount rate 
c. Long-term expected rate of return   
d. Amortization of actuarial gain/loss 

Primarily 0.6% 
Primarily 2.1% 
Primarily 16 years (amortized 
by the straight-line method 
starting from the following 
fiscal year, over a period 
shorter than the average 
remaining service periods of 
the eligible employees) 
13 to 18 years 

Benefit formula method 
Primarily 0.7% 
Primarily 2.1% 
Primarily 16 years (amortized 
by the straight-line method 
starting from the following 
fiscal year, over a period 
shorter than the average 
remaining service periods of 
the eligible employees) 
13 to 18 years 

e. Amortization of past service cost 

Defined contribution pension plan 
The amount required to contribute to defined contribution plans was 5,161 million yen (US$48,565 thousand) 
and 4,698 million yen for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, which included the 
multi-employer pension plan of contributory defined benefit employees’ welfare pension funds settled as 
defined contribution plans. 

Certain information concerning the multi-employer pension plan, which requires contributions that are 
expensed as they become due as pension and severance costs, was as follows: 
(1) Overall funded status of the multi-employer pension plan (mainly as of March 31, 2018 and 2017) 

Plan assets 
Projected benefit obligation 
Funded status 

2018 
¥9,130 
11,180 
(¥2,050) 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥10,660 
11,320 
(¥660) 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$85,913   
105,204 
($19,291) 

(2) Contributions by the Company and its consolidated domestic subsidiaries as a percentage of total 
contributions to the multi-employer pension plan for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were 4% 
and 4% respectively. 

Other than the above, “Accrued expenses” and “Other long-term liabilities” include 24,606 million yen 
(US$231,542 thousand) and 27,795 million yen of postretirement benefit plan obligations of certain U.S. 
subsidiaries as of March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.       

22 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12. Income Taxes 
The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries were subject to a number of taxes based on income, which in 
the aggregate resulted in a normal statutory income tax rate of approximately 30.7% for the fiscal years ended 
March 31, 2018 and 2017. 

A reconciliation of the statutory income tax rate in Japan to the Company’s effective income tax rate for the 
fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Statutory income tax rate in Japan 

Increase (reduction) in taxes resulting from: 
Difference of applicable tax rate in subsidiaries 
Adjustment of deferred tax assets by change of the tax rate 
Entertainment expenses not qualifying for deduction 
Correction for income tax in previous years 
Changes in valuation allowance and tax benefits realized from loss carry forwards 
Deduction of research and development expense 
Other 
Effective income tax rate 

2018 
30.7% 

2017 
30.7% 

0.5% 
0.1% 
0.1% 
0.6% 
(0.4)% 
(6.3)% 
0.1% 
25.4% 

2.4% 
- 
0.1% 
- 
0.0% 
(4.7)% 
(0.3)% 
28.2% 

Significant components of the deferred tax assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as 
follows: 

Deferred tax assets: 
Accrued expenses 
Unrealized profit on inventories 
Provision for product warranties 
Net defined benefit liability 
Depreciation and amortization expenses 
Provision for bonuses 
Long-term accounts payable-other 
Accrued enterprise tax 
Inventories 
Other 

Total deferred tax assets 

Valuation allowance 

Total deferred tax assets, net of valuation allowance 

Deferred tax liabilities: 

Deferred revenue of foreign consolidated subsidiaries 
Depreciation and amortization expenses 
Valuation difference on available-for-sale securities 
Reserve for reduction entry 
Net defined benefit asset 
Other 

Total deferred tax liabilities 
Net deferred tax assets 

23 

Millions of yen 
2017 

  Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥53,348   
22,748   
19,875   
15,082   
11,307   
7,493   
10,858 
677 
2,247   
20,623     
164,258     
(8,778) 
155,480   

$725,398   
189,423   
184,935   
138,920   
80,785   
71,563   
58,493   
26,753   
24,259   
194,681   
1,695,210   
(69,681)   
1,625,529     

(26,494) 
(22,466) 
(2,354) 
(1,770) 
(932) 
(744) 
(54,760) 
¥100,720   

(154,710) 
(133,904) 
(22,659) 
(15,903) 
(4,959) 
(7,001) 
(339,136) 
$1,286,393     

2018 

¥77,088 
20,130 
19,653 
14,763 
8,585 
7,605 
6,216 
2,843 
2,578 
20,689 
180,150 
(7,405) 
172,745 

(16,441) 
(14,230) 
(2,408) 
(1,690) 
(527) 
(744) 
(36,040) 
¥136,705 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The net deferred tax assets are included in the following line items in the accompanying consolidated balance 
sheets. 

Current assets—Deferred tax assets 
Investments and other assets—Deferred tax assets 
Long-term liabilities—Deferred tax liabilities 

Total net deferred tax assets 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥109,600   
20,922   
(29,802) 
¥100,720   

  Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$1,174,047 
303,416 
(191,070) 
$1,286,393   

2018 
¥124,766   
32,244   
(20,305) 
¥136,705   

Revision of deferred tax assets and liabilities due to change in income tax rate 

In  the  United  States,  the  Tax  Cuts  and  Jobs  Act  was  enacted  on  December  22,  2017,  and  the  federal 
income tax rate was reduced from 35% to 21% for fiscal years beginning on or after January 1, 2018. The 
effect of the change in the tax rate is immaterial. 

13. Net Assets 
Under Japanese laws and regulations, the entire amount paid for new shares is required to be designated as 
common stock. However, a company may, by a resolution of its Board of Directors, designate an amount not 
exceeding one half of the price of the new shares as additional paid-in capital, which is included in capital 
surplus. 

Under the Japanese Companies Act (“the Act”), in cases where a dividend distribution of surplus is made, 
the smaller of an amount equal to 10% of the dividend or the excess, if any, of 25% of common stock over the 
total of additional paid-in capital and legal earnings reserve must be set aside as additional paid-in capital or 
legal earnings reserve. Legal earnings reserve is included in retained earnings in the accompanying 
consolidated balance sheets. 

Under the Act, both legal earnings reserve and additional paid-in capital used to eliminate or reduce a 

deficit generally require a resolution of the shareholders’ meeting. 

Additional paid-in capital and legal earnings reserve may not be distributed as dividends. Under the Act, all 

additional paid-in capital and all legal earnings reserve may be transferred to other capital surplus and 
retained earnings, respectively, which are potentially available for dividends. 

The maximum amount that the Company can distribute as dividends is calculated based on the 

non-consolidated financial statements of the Company in accordance with the Act. 

At the annual shareholders’ meeting held on June 22, 2018, the shareholders approved cash dividends 
amounting to 55,233 million yen (US$519,742 thousand). Such appropriations have not been accrued in the 
consolidated financial statements as of March 31, 2018. Such appropriations are recognized in the period in 
which they are approved by the shareholders. 

14. Presentation of inventories and provision for loss on construction contracts   
"Provision for loss on construction contracts" included in "Cost of sales" for the fiscal years ended March 31, 
2018 and 2017 is provision of 95 million yen (US$ 894 thousand) and reversal of 579 million yen, respectively. 

24 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
15. Selling, General and Administrative Expenses 
Selling, general and administrative expenses for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 consisted 
of the following: 

  Millions of yen 
2017 
¥27,813 
80,780 
137,209 
55,123 
113,490 
114,501 
¥528,916 

2018 
¥28,438 
82,801 
173,785 
58,002 
120,330 
119,712 
¥583,068 

Thousands of 
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$267,601 
779,157   
1,635,316   
545,798   
1,132,305   
1,126,489   
$5,486,666 

Freightage and packing expenses 
Advertising expenses 
Sales incentives 
Salaries and bonuses 
Research and development expenses 
Other 

Total 

16. Extraordinary loss 
(The fiscal year ended March 31, 2017) 
Loss on business liquidation 

The loss was recognized due to the decision to liquidate the Industrial Products business on November 2, 
2016.The loss consists of 2,524 million yen of loss on fixed assets, 2,127 million yen on inventory valuation, 
and 471 million yen on others. The loss on fixed assets above includes impairment losses on the following 
assets. 

Use 

Location 

Category 

Production 
facilities 

Kitamoto City Saitama 
Prefecture and other 
locations 

Machinery, equipment 
and vehicles 

Impairment loss 
(millions of yen) 

1,201   

Production facilities that impairment losses are recognized on are grouped together with assets owned 

mainly by the Industrial Products business for impairment recognition and measurement purposes. 
Due to the decision to discontinue properties were recognized as follows the Industrial Products business, it 
is expected that future cash flows would fall below book values of related facilities, the book values of those 
assets were written down to the recoverable amounts accordingly. 

As a result, 1,201 million yen of impairment losses were recognized and presented in Loss on business 

liquidation in the quarterly consolidated statements of income. 

The recoverable amounts are measured at value in use, calculated based on future cash flows discounted 

principally at 10.30%. 

Impairment loss 
In  addition  to  the  impairment  loss  on  production  facilities  referred  to  above,  impairment  losses  on  rental 
properties were recognized as follows: 

Use 

Location 

Category 

Rental properties 

Konan City Shiga 
Prefecture 

Land 

Other 

Impairment loss 
(millions of yen) 

1,175   

10   

Grouping unit for recognition and measurement of impairment loss is defined by each property for lease. 
Due to the declining profitability and significant decline in market value, it is expected that future cash flows 
would fall below book values of those properties, the book values of those properties were written down to 
the recoverable amounts accordingly. 

As  a  result,  1,185  million  yen  of  impairment  losses  were  recognized.  The  recoverable  amounts  are 

25 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
measured at net realizable value, calculated based on real estate appraisal value. 

(The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018) 
Loss on related to airbags 
The  loss  was  recognized  due  to  the  market  measures  concerning  Takata  airbag  inflator  not  containing 
desiccant  (hereinafter  referred  to  as  "the  airbag").  It  is  quality-assurance  expenses  which  further  market 
measures relating to the airbags to be taken in the current fiscal year and beyond. 

17. Finance Leases 
As allowed under the Japanese accounting standards, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries in 
Japan account for finance leases. 

Information as Lessor 
(1) The details of lease investment assets as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Lease revenue receivable 
Estimated residual value 
Interest income portion 
Lease investment assets 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥22,210 
386 
(4,058) 
¥18,538 

  Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$193,225 
3,717   
(35,843) 
$161,099   

2018 
¥20,534 
395 
(3,809) 
¥17,120 

(2) Lease revenue related to lease investment assets 
Amounts of collections on lease receivable after the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as 
follows: 

Within 1 year 
1 to 2 years 
2 to 3 years 
3 to 4 years 
4 to 5 years 
Over 5 years 

Millions of yen 
2017 
¥7,355 
6,022 
4,590 
2,638 
1,594 
  ¥11 

  Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 
$74,170   
51,341 
32,879 
21,850 
12,675 
$310   

2018 
¥7,882 
5,456 
3,494 
2,322 
1,347 
  ¥33 

18. Operating Lease 
Information as Lessee 
The future minimum lease/rent payments, excluding the portion of interest thereon, as of March 31, 2018 and 
2017, were as follows: 

Operating leases: 

Due within one year 
Due after one year 

Total 

Millions of yen 
2017 

  Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥3,490 
17,101 
¥20,591 

$31,730   
132,192 
$163,922   

2018 

¥3,372 
14,048 
¥17,420 

26 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information as Lessor 
The future minimum lease/rent payments receivable, excluding the portion of interest thereon, as of March 31, 
2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Operating leases: 

Due within one year 
Due after one year 

Total 

19. Contingent Liabilities 
Contingent liabilities as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

Millions of yen 
2017 

  Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥137 
72 
¥209 

$1,176   
668 
$1,844   

2018 

¥125 
71 
¥196 

  Thousands of 
Millions  of  yen  U.S. dollars 
2018 

2017 

2018 

As guarantor of third-party indebtedness from financial 

institutions 

¥29,795 

¥28,555 

$280,371 

(The fiscal year ended March 31, 2017) 
Expenses with regard to the modified agreement contents between the U.S. subsidiary of Takata Co., Ltd. 
and NHTSA (The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration of the United States) dated May 4, 2016, 
Notification “Extended schedule of the recalls of airbag inflators manufactured by Takata Co., Ltd.” released 
by  MLIT  (The  Ministry  of  Land,  Infrastructure,  Transport  and  Tourism  of  Japan)  dated  May  27,  2016,  and 
recalls in the other regions including China and Australia required by the U.S. and Japanese authorities are 
accrued to the extent that the amount can be reasonably estimated in the consolidated financial statements 
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017. 

There is a possibility that additional expense may be accrued required due to events in the future. 

(The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018) 
Expenses with regard to the modified agreement contents between the U.S. subsidiary of Takata Co., Ltd. 
and NHTSA (The National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration of the United States) dated May 4, 2016, 
Notification “Extended schedule of the recalls of airbag inflators manufactured by Takata Co., Ltd.” released 
by  MLIT  (The  Ministry  of  Land,  Infrastructure,  Transport  and  Tourism  of  Japan)  dated  May  27,  2016,  and 
recalls in the other regions including China and Australia required by the U.S. and Japanese authorities are 
accrued to the extent that the amount can be reasonably estimated in the consolidated financial statements 
for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018. 

There is a possibility that additional expense may be accrued required due to events in the future. 

20. The Amount of Discount of Export Bill 
The amount of discount of export bill as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

The amount of discount of export bill 

  Thousands of 
Millions  of  yen  U.S. dollars 
2018 
$17,794 

2017 
¥1,210 

2018 
¥1,891 

27 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
21. Transfer of Financial Assets to Special Purpose Company 
The balance of financial assets transferred to special purpose company as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 were 
as follows: 

Balance of financial assets transferred to special purpose 
company(loan receivable of Automobiles and accounts 
receivable-trade of Aerospace) 

  Thousands of 
Millions  of  yen  U.S. dollars 
2018 

2017 

2018 

¥4,251 

¥4,488 

$40,002 

22. Segment Information 
(1)Outline of business segment 
The business segments the Company reports are the business units for which the Company is able to obtain 
respective financial information separately in order for the Board of Directors to conduct periodic investigation 
to determine distribution of management resources and evaluate their business result. 

The Company recognizes Automobile as its main business, and introduces an internal company system 

and recognizes Aerospace, and Other divisions. This framework makes clearer the responsibility of each 
division and accelerates business execution. The Company manages the subsidiaries on the basis of this 
classification. Therefore, the business segments consist of Automobile, Aerospace, and Other which do not 
belong to Automobile nor Aerospace. Automobile segment manufactures and sells vehicles and related 
products. Aerospace segment manufactures aircrafts, parts of space-related devices.   

(2)Calculation method of sales, profit or loss, assets, liabilities and other items by reportable segments 
Accounting method for reportable segments is almost the same as "2. Summary of Significant 
Accounting Policies". 

Segment incomes are calculated based on operating income. 
Net sales - Inter-segment are calculated based on current market prices. 

(3)Information on sales, income, assets and other items by reportable segments for the fiscal years ended 
March 31, 2018 and 2017 were summarized as follows 

Net Sales: 
Automobiles 

Outside customers 
Inter-segment 
Sub-total 

Aerospace 

Outside customers 
Inter-segment 
Sub-total     

Other (*1) 

Outside customers 
Inter-segment 
Sub-total 
Total 
Adjustment (*2) 
Consolidated total 

Millions of yen 
2017 

2018 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥3,234,866 
2,918 
3,237,784 

¥3,151,961 
4,720 
3,156,681 

$30,440,068 
27,458 
30,467,526 

142,163 
5 
142,168 

28,192 
23,852 
52,044 
3,431,996 
(26,775) 
¥3,405,221 

138,759 
- 
138,759 

1,337,753 
47 
1,337,800 

35,272 
23,785 
59,057 
3,354,497 
(28,505) 
¥3,325,992 

265,287 
224,447 
489,734 
32,295,060 
(251,953) 
$32,043,107 

28 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment income: 

Automobiles 
Aerospace 
Other (*1) 
Total 
Adjustment (*2) 
Consolidated total (*3) 

Segment assets: 

Automobiles 
Aerospace 
Other (*1)   
Total 
Adjustment (*2) 
Consolidated total 

Other Items: 
Depreciation and amortization: 

Automobiles 
Aerospace 
Other (*1) 
Total 
Adjustment (*2) 

Consolidated total 
Investment to equity-method affiliates: 

Automobiles 
Aerospace 
Other (*1) 
Total 
Adjustment (*2) 
Consolidated total 

Increase of property, plant and equipment and 
intangible assets: 
Automobiles 
Aerospace 
Other (*1) 
Total 
Adjustment (*2) 
Consolidated total   

29 

Millions of yen 
2017 

2018 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥361,454 
12,259 
5,066 
378,779 
668 
¥379,447 

¥397,657 
9,102 
3,512 
410,271 
539 
¥410,810 

$3,401,280 
115,357 
47,671 
3,564,308 
6,286 
$3,570,594 

Millions of yen 
2017 

2018 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥2,598,192   
234,619   
77,583   
2,910,394 
(26,081)   
¥2,884,313     

¥2,477,309   
223,148   
87,484   
2,787,941 
(25,620)   

$24,448,970 
2,207,763 
730,055 
27,386,788 
(245,422) 
¥2,762,321      $27,141,366 

Millions of yen 
2017 

2018 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥95,193 
5,298 
1,611 
102,102 
- 

102,102 

3,461 
- 
54 
3,515 
- 
3,515 

185,056 
8,316 
417 
193,789 
- 
¥193,789 

¥80,058 
3,663 
1,932 
85,653 
- 

85,653 

1,467 
- 
- 
1,467 
- 
1,467 

$895,766 
49,854 
15,159 
960,779 
- 

960,779   

32,568   
- 
508 
33,076 
- 
33,076   

180,469 
14,699 
1,448 
196,616 
- 
¥196,616 

1,741,376 
78,254 
3,923 
1,823,553 
- 
$1,823,553   

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note: *1. Other means the category which is not included into any business segment reported. It consists of 

Industrial product, real estate lease, etc. 

*2. Adjustment of segment income refers to elimination of intersegment transaction. 
*3. Segment income is adjusted on operating income on the consolidated statements of income. 

Related Information 
(1)Products and services information 
Products and services information is omitted since the same information is in the segment information 

(2)Information about geographic areas 
[1]Sales for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was summarized as follows: 

Sales: (*1) 
Japan 
North America 

[United States] (*2) 

Europe 
Asia 
Other 

Consolidated total 

  Millions of yen 
2017 

2018 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥668,566 
2,305,797 
[2,152,276] 
119,113 
140,577 
171,168 
¥3,405,221 

¥650,343 
2,192,260 
[2,056,176] 
112,602 
211,325 
159,462 
¥3,325,992 

$6,291,202 
21,697,535 
[20,252,903] 
1,120,853 
1,322,829 
1,610,688 
$32,043,107 

Note: *1 Sales is categorized by country or area which is based on customer location. 

*2 Sales of the United States is included in North America area. 

[2]Property, plant and equipment as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 was summarized as follows: 

  Millions of yen 
2017 

2018 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

Property, plant and equipment: (*1) 

Japan 
North America 

[United States] (*2) 

Europe 
Other 

¥527,698 
174,290 
[173,557] 
519 
601 
¥703,108 

¥489,383 
166,665 
[165,877] 
425 
792 
¥657,265 

4,965,635 
1,640,068 
[1,633,170] 
4,884 
5,654 
6,616,241 

Consolidated total 
Note: *1 Property, plant and equipment is categorized by country or area according to geographic adjacent 

level. 

*2 Property, plant and equipment of the United States is included in North America area. 

[3]Major customers Information 
Information about major customers is omitted because there were no outside sales to single customer with 
equal to or more than 10% of Net sales on the consolidated statements of income for the fiscal years ended 
March 31, 2018 and 2017 

30 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Information on Impairment Loss in Fixed Assets by Reportable segments 
Impairment loss in fixed assets by reportable segments for the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 
was summarized as follows: 

Impairment loss in fixed assets: 

Automobiles 
Aerospace 
Other 

Total 

Adjustment 
Total 

Millions of yen 
2017 

2018 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥31 
- 
- 
31 
- 
¥31 

¥3 
- 
2,386 
2,389 
- 
¥2,389 

$292   
-   
- 
292 
- 
$292   

“Other” represents the business segments which are not included in any reportable business segments. It 
includes Industrial products and Real estate lease, and other. 

Information on Amortization of Goodwill and Unamortized Balance by Reportable segments 
Information on amortization of goodwill and unamortized balance by reportable segments as of March 31, 
2018 and 2017 was summarized as follows: 
Goodwill 

Amount written off of current period: 

Automobiles 
Aerospace 
Other   
Total 

Corporate and elimination 
Total 

Balance at the end of current period: 

Automobiles 
Aerospace 
Other 

Total 

Corporate and elimination 
Total 

Millions of yen 
2017 

Thousands of   
U.S. dollars 
2018 

¥206 
- 
- 
206 
- 
206 

1,867 
- 
- 
1,867 
- 
¥1,867 

$1,986   
- 
- 
1,986 
- 
1,986   

14,736   
- 
- 
14,736 
- 
$14,736   

2018 

¥211 
- 
- 
211 
- 
211 

1,566 
- 
- 
1,566 
- 
¥1,566 

Information on Negative Goodwill by Reportable segments 
No items to be reported. 

23. Fair Value of Investment and Rental Property 
The Company and certain consolidated subsidiaries own rental office buildings and rental commercial 
facilities with the objective of generating rental income in Saitama prefecture and other locations. Certain 
domestic rental office buildings in Japan are classified as properties that include portions used as investment 
and rental property, because part of them are used by the Company and certain consolidated subsidiaries. 

The consolidated balance sheet amounts, principal changes during the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 

and 2017, and fair value as of March 31, 2018 and 2017 were as follows: 

31 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 

beginning 
balance 

Consolidated balance sheet amounts 
Increase(dec
rease) during 
the year 

ending 
balance 

Millions  of  yen 

Fair value as 
the end of the 
fiscal year 

Investment and rental property 
Properties that include portions used as 
investment and rental property 

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 

¥27,036   

¥242 

¥27,278   

¥40,136   

¥13,712   

(¥253) 

¥13,459   

¥22,804   

Thousands  of  U.S.  dollars 

beginning 
balance 

Consolidated balance sheet amounts 
Increase(dec
rease) during 
the year 

ending 
balance 

Fair value as 
the end of the 
fiscal year 

Investment and rental property 
Properties that include portions used as 
investment and rental property 

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 

$254,409   

$2,277   

$256,686   

$377,679   

$129,030   

($2,381) 

$126,649   

$214,585   

beginning 
balance 

Consolidated balance sheet amounts 
Increase(dec
rease) during 
the year 

ending 
balance 

Millions  of  yen 

Fair value as 
the end of the 
fiscal year 

Investment and rental property 
Properties that include portions used as 
investment and rental property 

¥29,243   

(¥2,207) 

¥27,036   

¥40,819   

¥14,495   

(¥783) 

¥13,712   

¥21,490   

  Note 1. The amounts of consolidated balance sheet exclude accumulated depreciation and accumulated 

impairment loss from acquisition costs. 

2. Among changes in the amount of investment and rental property and properties that include portions 
used as investment and rental property during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2018, principal increases 
were 1,539 million yen (US$14,482 thousand) of properties acquisitions and 720 million yen (US$6,775 
thousand) of other, and principal decreases were 1,001 million yen (US$9,419 thousand) of depreciation, 
1,469 million yen (US$13,823 thousand) of loss on sales and retirement. 

Among changes in the amount of investment and rental property and properties that include portions 
used as investment and rental property during the fiscal year ended March 31, 2017, principal increases 
were 1,337 million yen of properties acquisitions, and principal decreases were 1,071 million yen of 
depreciation, 1,203 million yen of impairment losses, 568 million yen of loss on sales and retirement, 928 
million yen of end of contracts, and 543 million yen of other decreases. 

3. Fair values of main properties are calculated based on the appraised value of the external real-estate 
appraiser. Some of them are adjusted by the Company using relevant indicators etc. Fair values of the 
remaining properties are estimated by the Company mainly using the assessed land values that are 
used to calculate property taxes.  

32 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profit and loss in the fiscal years ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 from investment and rental property and 
properties that include portions used as investment and rental property were as follows: 

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 

Rental 
income 

Rental 
expenses 

Difference 

Millions  of  yen 
Other profit 
and loss 

Investment and rental property 
Properties that include portions used as 
investment and rental property 

¥3,825   

¥2,043   

¥1,782   

¥780   

¥1,198   

(¥418) 

¥15 

¥- 

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2018 

Investment and rental property 
Properties that include portions used as 
investment and rental property 

The fiscal year ended March 31, 2017 

Investment and rental property 
Properties that include portions used as 
investment and rental property 

Thousands  of  U.S.  dollars 

Rental 
income 

Rental 
expenses 

Difference 

Other profit 
and loss 

$35,993 

$19,225 

$16,768 

$141   

$7,340 

$11,273 

($3,933) 

$- 

Rental 
income 

Rental 
expenses 

Difference 

Millions  of  yen 
Other profit 
and loss 

¥3,909   

¥2,059   

¥1,850   

(¥1,133) 

¥775   

¥1,224   

(¥449) 

¥- 

Note:1. Rental income (from the properties that include portions used as investment and rental property) does 

not include the portion that the Company or certain subsidiaries use as the provision of services and 
business administration purposes. Rental expenses, however, include all portions of the expenses 
(costs related to depreciation, repairs, insurance and taxes). 
2. Other profit and loss include in gain on sale and impairment loss. 

25. Subsequent Events 

No items to be reported. 

26. Other 

No items to be reported. 

33